YOBS who smashed down an elderly woman’s fence have been branded “morons”.

Vandals targeted 92-year-old Sam Smith’s house in old Harwich on Friday night while she was in Colchester General Hospital with a broken leg.

Son David, who is also a parish councillor for Ramsey and Parkeston, is furious at the damage.

“A broken leg is serious for a lady of her age. She had an operation on Friday and is making progress but I am going to tell her some cretins have kicked down her wooden fence,” he said.

“I hope to have it replaced before she gets home.

“It makes my blood boil that some morons came out of the pub tanked up and think it is funny to damage an elderly lady’s fence.

“What is wrong with these people?”

Mr Smith has contacted the police about the vandalism but does not believe a conviction is likely.

“Realistically what can the police do?

“It is lucky in a way my mum was not at home as if she had seen what was going on she would have gone out and confronted them and at that point anything could have happened.”

An Essex police spokesman confirmed they were looking into the incident which has cost £200 to fix.