MEMBERS of a community group tasked with protecting a former Gwent-mining site have spoken out after an estimated £1,000 of damage was caused by vandals.

Non-profit organisation, Friends of the Crumlin Navigation Colliery (FCNC), are a group of volunteers who aim to preserve the ex-mining buildings for future generations.

Since forming in 2010 they have aimed to raise awareness and funds for the site with 72 paid members, 10 committed volunteers and an annual roster of fundraising markets and events.

On Sunday, February 19, vandals were captured on CCTV trespassing and destroying two bee hives housed at the site as part of the group’s ‘Bee Project’.

The initial colonies of bees were introduced to the site in July 2015 by the Sirhowy Valley Honeybee Company and supported by environmental scheme Keep Wales Tidy.

FCNC membership secretary, Bill Davison, 69, described the vandalism as “mindless”and noted two colonies were destroyed “in a time when the bee population is in decline”.

“We have identified many of the culprits involved and have provided that information to the police. If only they could direct their intelligence and efforts into preserving our site and all it stands for,” he said.

“We as a group are, after all, trying to regenerate the site with a future use for the community as a whole and provide jobs and opportunities for the young of tomorrow.

“It may take us a while but we are determined to make it a success. Regrettably it is incidents like this that take up valuable time and effort, let alone the cost of replacing the bee colonies.”

The site, built between 1907 and 1911, which contains 11 listed buildings, is supported by the Prince’s Regeneration Trust and Welsh Government — who issued a £250,000 grant in 2014.

The National Coal Board took over the Navigation at the time of Nationalisation in 1947 and the mine continued to produce coal until 1967.

The site was also hit by crime in April, 2016, when cabling was deliberately set on fire.

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: “We’re appealing for information after Navigation Colliery in Crumlin was targeted by criminals.

“Damage included damage to a fence, two beehives being destroyed and paint was also thrown around.”

If you have any information call 101 quoting log number: 382 20/02/17

For more information on the FCNC, visit: http://thecrumlinnavigation.org/.