A retired Methodist minister leading the campaign against a controversial teenage village today claimed a spate of vandalism on the site proved it was unsuitable.

Castle Point's crime prevention officer, PC Gordon Sinclair, put forward the site on the recreational ground along Chapel Lane, Hadleigh as a possible home for the steel pagoda-like structures.

However, the Rev George Thompson-Brake, whose ministry at the Hadleigh Methodist Church in Chapel Lane is next to the war memorial ground, said the arrival of the proposed teen village would merely make vandalism problems worse.

The 81-year-old claimed many residents were unhappy with the idea of a teen village on land given over to commemorate those lost at war.

He said: "My concern is not that we should not make some provision for young people. My concern is the suitability of that land.

"It was set aside in memory of men who lost their lives for their country. It should be preserved in that capacity."

Chris Moran, the borough's client services manager, said the memorial ground had suffered from a spate of vandalism over the bank holiday weekend.

He said: "We do have more vandalism during holidays and this weekend was slightly worse than usual.

"We had broken bottles on King George the Fifth school playground on Canvey Island, as well as graffiti and broken windows across the borough.

"At the memorial ground vandals set fire to the new rubber swing seats which had to be put out by the local fire service. The cost is estimated at £200."

Mr Moran admitted council taxpayers will end up footing the clean-up bills, but insisted the vandals were in the minority.

He said: "The majority of young people are responsible and considerate. Unfortunately, a minority are not. If we could stop or catch them, this would lessen the problem. There seems to be a hard core mob involved.

"If the public contact us or the police then we can do something about it. We have park rangers we can send during council hours and the police will prosecute if those responsible are caught."

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