Community clean-up activists have conceded their hands will be tied in their transformation of Paisley’s Glencoats Park if frequent anti-social behaviour continues.

Volunteers are being faced with daily problems caused by youth vandals, who have set fire to a tire swing and damaged the fairy houses.

The group created a memorial garden but are now having to rethink what items they can put there, for fear they will be vandalised.

Karen Campbell, chairwoman of Pals of the Privies, has admitted she has even come close to walking away from the renovation project.

She said: “We had a tree swing that was set on fire and we had it back up then the ropes were burnt so it’s unusable.

“The fairy houses have been broken. We have done a superhero trail, where you have to find them in the trees and they have stolen three of them. It’s daily things now.

“I think it’s restricting us and now we are having to reevaluate the plans we had. We can’t have wooden benches because they would be set on fire.

“I have at times felt like walking away, if it wasn’t for the volunteers I would’ve done it. They keep me sane.”

Karen believes part of the problem is there isn’t enough in the area for young people to do, meaning they resort to anti-social behaviour for “excitement”.

She added: “It’s very difficult because there’s nothing to do here. The Tannahill Centre shuts their clubs during the summer.

“We are trying our best to speak to parents. It’s about reeducating people that we are trying to make changes for the better.

“The people love it, it’s just a small minority. There’s nothing to do and they need a bit of excitement.”

Lynn McCulloch, the interim chief executive of Ferguslie Group, which owns the Tannahill Centre, said she understood Karen’s concerns about a lack of youth clubs.

However, she insisted it’s a situation which is improving.

She said: “What we have done is increase things that are on during the summer. But it is true that there’s not as much as the rest of the year.

“Until about a year ago, there was nothing at all in the summer so it’s improved since then.

“We have had a fabulous summer with long late nights so there’s been plenty of places for the kids to hang around and get up to mischief.

“Of course we are up for getting as many activities on as possible.

“And we have certainly got nothing but admiration for what people have done at Glencoats Park.”