Tobogganing yobs have laid waste to commemorative trees planted in Colchester.
Angry - Sonia Lewis and Doug Henshall re-plant damaged saplings. Picture: STEVE ARGENT (41247-3)
Youths took advantage of the snowy weather to destroy a line of saplings, planted on Sunday by a team of volunteers at Lexden Springs.
Many of the trees, required for a council-backed bid to deter travellers from setting up camp at the site, were paid for by residents as a tribute to lost loved ones.
But ward councillor Don Henshall, who planted one in memory of his late father, said they were wilfully uprooted by the sledging teenagers.
He said: "There were a group of older kids tobogganing down there, and residents said they were deliberately crashing into the trees.
"They were digging holes to make ramps for their toboggans and causing serious damage. It is absolutely disgraceful that they have wrecked the property of residents and the council like this."
A team of Colchester workmen returned to the site today to replant trees and repair as much damage as possible.
Published Friday, February 25, 2005
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