TWO teenage boys repeatedly kicked a football at the listed Shelley Theatre in Boscombe causing £2,000 worth of damage.

Now the theatre manager and police have appealed for help to identify the offenders.

At around 8.10pm on Monday June 15 the boys were seen in the area of the Beechwood Avenue theatre kicking a football at the building for around half an hour.

It was later reported that a window of the building had been smashed and the teenagers were seen riding off on bicycles.The building is listed and the cost of repairing the window is estimated to be around £2,000.

Theatre manager Zoe Dunne said an original Victorian window was damaged and the repair bill could be higher if original shutters inside the window are also damaged.

The boys’ actions were captured on CCTV, purchased with the help of donations from the community.

Police have declined to release images showing the faces of the boys in the video because of their ages.

The theatre, restored in 2013, is currently out of action due to the coronavirus crisis and is already facing financial difficulties.

Zoe told the Daily Echo: “We have been on a huge journey and have come such a long way.

“We have never received any large grant funding and our money has come from ticket sales, bar sales and generous patrons.

“We have been incredibly fortunate with so many people wanting the place to succeed so it is awful when something like this happens.”

She thanked all the theatre’s supporters, including those who helped to buy the CCTV.

Police Community Support Investigator Martin Young, of Dorset Police, said: “This building is a much valued community facility that has been refurbished for the benefit of local people and now faces the significant cost of repairing the damaged window.

“I would urge anyone with information about who is responsible for the damage to please contact us.”

Information to Dorset Police on 101, quoting occurrence number 55200085804, or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.