THIEVES caused hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage to new council houses in Oxford, for just £20-worth of copper.

They ransacked the multi-million pound Cardinal House scheme just two weeks before the first tenants were due to move in.

Radiators and copper piping were stolen from 13 of the 53 properties, in Littlemore, leading to extensive water damage to ceilings, walls, floors and kitchen surfaces.

Now workers will have to rip out swathes of the building and start replacement work.

Thieves struck at the Cardinal Close development, which is providing some of Oxford’s first council housing in 20 years, sometime between 5pm on Wednesday and 5am the following morning.

Kevin Dawson, clerk of the work for Oxford City Council, said it was “mindless vandalism”.

He said: “The damage runs into the hundreds of thousands of pounds, all for about £20 of copper.

“We might as well have left £20 on the doorstep for them, for all the damage they caused.

“It was obviously amateurs acting on the spur of the moment. It is so sad to see the place in this state.

“We are going to have to rip out so much of the work already done because we have to make sure no water has pooled anywhere.”

One resident who was due to move in on April 19 said he now had no idea when he would get the keys.

He said: “Everyone was looking forward to moving in because we are going to get excellent council properties to live in.

“Now we do not know when we’ll be able to live there.

“I hope these people know how much trouble they have caused for so many people.”

The Homes and Communities Agency gave £4m for the redevelopment of Cardinal House and a development in Lambourne Road, in Rose Hill.

Twenty sheltered housing units are being built and 33 one- and two-bedroom flats were refurbished under the scheme, first proposed in 2007.

Facilities include modern kitchens, walk-in shower rooms, laundry rooms, a lounge and quiet room and mobility scooter stores.

Littlemore city councillor John Tanner said: “This is a dreadful set-back for some excellent and much-needed council housing in Littlemore that people have been waiting for a long time.”

The flooding caused by the thefts is thought to have gone on for about five hours.

Bruce Thompson, the city council’s planned operations manager, said: “We are extremely disappointed that this has happened.

“It will more than likely delay the opening of the sheltered accommodation block.”

Insp Matt Coburn, of the Littlemore neighbourhood police team, said: “This was a mindless criminal act, which has caused significant damage to homes that were about to be occupied by families who are most in need.”

Witnesses should call police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111