A CHARITY which works with disadvantaged children has vowed not to be disheartened after vandals struck again.

The Canal Boat Adventure Project, which runs numerous activities for Halton youngsters, is concentrating on the positive achievements of the last month after discovering one of its vessels, Friendship 2000, had been stolen, smashed up, then set adrift.

The vandals struck overnight last Tuesday, less than a year after another project boat, Add-Ven -ture, was gutted by arsonists.

The vandals broke into the boat where it was moored on Clay-moor Navigation. They sailed it up the canal to Daresbury before short circuiting the engine and trashing the inside.

Project chairwoman, Norma Hornby, said: 'Every window and light was smashed, every door was broken, every curtain was ripped. Luckily the hull was OK and the boat can be salvaged.'

But Norma remains positive: 'This is a cloud to our silver lining but we have insurance and we're not going to let it get us down.'

Just last week a group of youngsters from the project's Nessie Club enjoyed a long weekend in London including a tour of the House of Commons, trip to the Science Museum and a night at the theatre watching Blood Brothers in the West End.

Meanwhile, the outstanding achievements of individual youngsters are being celebrated, with junior committee member and volunteer Leeanne Dykins completing her dream of passing out with the Army, and Paul Wright and Aimee Mottram being chosen to spend three weeks in South Africa next year. Paul has also been nominated as a Weekly News Your Champions 2004 Youngster of the Year.

The group has gained national recognition - with coverage of their innovative work appearing in national newspapers and on television, while Runcorn pop star Nicola Roberts from Girls Aloud pledged further support after becoming the project's ambassador. She will now attend the group's presentation evening and congratulate youngsters on their achievements.