A SECURITY team has been installed to patrol a Prudhoe building site following repeated break-ins.

Work is continuing on the construction of Gentoo’s 404-home development on the town’s former hospital site.

However, an email sent to Prudhoe Town Council from the developer’s acting head of development, Brendon Ferguson described vandalism and theft on the site.

It stated: “We’ve had instances of locks on gates being superglued, locks being stolen.

“More worrying, and quite literally on a daily basis people are not only climbing the fences but using wire cutters to cut openings in the wire fence panels in order to access and pass through the site.”

On Monday, a public footpath through Humbles Wood was closed to allow Gentoo to carry out infrastructure works.

Gentoo says the popular leisure area was kept open to the public for as long as possible before the building works posed a risk.

The full closure of the site is described as a “temporary measure” and as construction work progresses areas will be re-opened in phases.

A spokesperson said: “This access will be restored and much improved as part of the new development, including installing a new set of steps leading to the Burn from the development.

“We hope to re-open the public right of way by summer 2017, weather dependent.”