Vandals have wrecked a community garden created just four months ago by school pupils in Colchester.

Housing chiefs believe the yobs came equipped with tools as they executed a deliberate plan to ruin the beauty spot.

They scored deep grooves in a seat at the garden in Stanley Wooster Way, Greenstead.

And they hacked in half a concrete ball that was part of a sculpture designed by youngsters from Sir Charles Lucas Arts College.

Created on the site of a former notorious dumping ground for flytippers, the garden was only completed in May after the children planned and planted it as a project for their Prince's Trust course.

Colchester Borough Homes, which won funding for the scheme, today appealed for householders in the area to help police catch the vandals.

Resident involvement manager Gill Thomson said: "Police have been informed, we have got CCTV cameras and we'll be looking at the footage to try to find out who is responsible.

"It has obviously been done with the specific intention of causing damage, and it could not have been done unless people were using a saw or a chisel."

  • Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Colchester police on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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