A united strategy to fight the continuing vandalism problem at Billericay's Lake Meadows Park has been launched by Basildon District Council and the police in the wake of more costly damage.

In the latest attacks vandals uprooted newly planted trees and used them to smash through windows at the park's cafe.

The council calculates the damage could total as much as £1,000.

The police and council are now hoping to get Billericay residents involved in tracing the perpetrators.

Billericay Police's PC Mick Bray said: "Lake Meadows is a lovely park and these totally irresponsible and anti-social attacks are very upsetting for local people who visit regularly.

"I would urge anyone who may have seen or heard anything significant, or who has any other information about this crime to contact me at Billericay Station - so that hopefully we can prevent this kind of damage happening again."

Both the council and police have taken action to combat the problem including stepping up patrols in the area and locking the park earlier in the area, but damage has continued.

Over the last few weeks vandalism at the park has included graffiti, smashed windows at the bowls pavilion, public toilets being damaged and trees being snapped in half.

To contact PC Bray call 01277 631212.

Havoc: Damage caused when vandals uprooted a tree to smash the cafe window

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