A gang of knife-wielding thugs went on the rampage at a ground-breaking charity for traumatised veterans.

The vandals caused thousands of pounds of damage as they trashed the workshop used by ex-forces personnel.

Veterans were left fighting back tears as they surveyed the trail of damage left by yobs at the pioneering project that provides therapy through woodworking and music.

Former soldier Hugh McMillan, 50, said: “They must know we are veterans. It’s as if they are trying to hurt us.”

Neds threatened a female witness with a knife, smashed windows, wrecked tools, daubed paint on walls and destroyed musical instruments that ex-servicemen and women had been working on.

Police have launched a probe into the orgy of violence by six thugs on Monday night at RE:tune in the east end of Glasgow.

(Image: Garry McHarg/Daily Record)

(Image: Garry McHarg/Daily Record)

Hugh, who served in the Gulf War, added: “I was devastated when I came down and saw the state of the place. I have been coming down for about a year- and-a-half and know how much hard work is put into this place.

“This project means a lot I could not believe my eyes when I came down on Monday night. I got a call saying the place had been done over and, when I arrived, there were three or four police vans and loads of cars.

“The vandals had painted a load of gang graffiti and even painted over some of the guitars. This was a nice environment to come to but they have run amok. It’s complete and utter stupidity. When I got home last night, I couldn’t sleep.”

The charity RE:Tune harness the power of music and the skills needed to build instruments to help those who have served their country tackle the problems many of them meet as they try to readjust to civilian life.

Hugh added: “There is a recording studio and a lassie came to use that and bumped into the vandals who shouted abuse and threatened her with a knife. It’s mindless. “

Fellow veteran Andy Graham, 37, served in the RAF during the Gulf War. He said: “I stay in Alloa and came though when I heard what happened. I was heartbroken when I saw the place.

“There was a guitar I had been working on for the last five months. It was lying on a work table and they had put a saw through it. Mindless. It really, really got to me.”

Former Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers soldier Lee Aitchison, 31, from Airdrie, served two tours in Afghanistan.

He said: “I’ve been coming to the place for a couple of months but it now just looks like a crime scene.

“It’s very upsetting. It will be really soul destroying for the guys who have been working on instruments.”

(Image: Garry McHarg/Daily Record)

(Image: Daily Record)

(Image: Garry McHarg/Daily Record)

Founded by David McHarg, of Dennistoun, the scheme, in Edinburgh Road, trains veterans in woodworking and music.

The idea came to David, 47, after 22 years working with social work teams tackling everything from addiction and mental health to crime and homelessness.

David said: “I was in floods of tears when I saw the place. It has been four years of blood, sweat and tears to build this place up.

“I am unwaged and have had a lot sleepless nights about funding to keep this place going, then this happens.

“My first thought was what am I going to do for the guys? Some of them have demons they need to deal with every day – it is a lifeline for them.

“There must be £10,000 of damage to the guitars and months and years of work lost.”

Last night, Police said: “At 6.25pm on Monday, police received reports that premises had been broken into by a group of several youths. The youths were destroying property but the culprits made off. Our enquiries are ongoing.”

● To donate to the project, email theretuneproject@gmail.com.