A break-in at the temporary cafe was the latest setback in a redevelopment project at an Oxfordshire recreation ground.

Social enterprise Courtside is overhauling The Leys in Witney in partnership with Witney Town Council.

During works a shipping container is being used as a temporary café.

But the container was broken in to a few weeks ago and another attempt was made on Sunday July 14.

"It is not something any of us want to see on The Leys," Courtside said, asking anyone with information to tell the police.

Work got under way on the scheme in January. The Coffee Shed community café and toilets had been demolished and a council depot vacated by May.

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But in June works stopped after the old cricket pavilion was knocked down.

The Coffee Shed's temporary container has been broken into (Image: Courtside)

Courtside said its construction drawings needed to be modified to "take into account the onsite realities of an uneven terrain".

It described the delays as "unfortunate".

But updating residents, due to the number of inquiries, it said this work is now being finished "so that all the components of steelwork, drainage system, mechanical and electrical cabling, and landscaping can be updated and woven into a programme of works".

Lead contractor NJF should be back on site in early August with a target of completion by the new year.

Despite the building work Live at The Leys performances have returned on Thursday evenings and the mini golf course and tennis courts are being refreshed shortly and are still open to use throughout the summer.

The splash park reopened in May and there are plans for it to be refurbished for next year and even for extra features to be added.

And a new wheeled sports park for skaters, scooters and BMX bikers with a redesigned layout and ramps, curbs, boxes and rails funded by a £57,975 grant from FCC Communities Foundation opened in March.

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This overall project is being funded by a £649,000 grant from the Community Ownership Fund from the Department for Levelling Up matched by contributions by landowner Witney Town Council and leaseholder Courtside.

The town council is contributing £250,000, plus a further sum that was set aside for the regeneration of the skate park.

The investment is being used to create a bigger, more efficient community café with new kitchen and increased seating, better public access toilets, an indoor activity space, redesigned skate park, Padel tennis courts and a mix of other outdoor recreational facilities.  

Anyone who has any information about the break-ins, should report it to the police on 101.