A REWARD of £150 is being offered to help catch weekend vandals who targeted one of Stroud's showcase public gardens - leaving staff devastated and bringing one elderly visitor to tears.

Staff who look after Park Gardens arrived at work on Monday morning to discover around 100 plants and shrubs had been torn out of the ground and kicked around like footballs.

Other areas had been trampled and beer bottles left smashed on the ground.

Mayor Andy Read was so upset when he saw pictures of the damage that he has personally put up a £150 reward for anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible.

"I am simply stunned that anyone would stoop so low as to do something like this," he said.

"This is a very open, public site and I am confident that there is someone out there who saw something or may know those responsible.

"If an incentive is needed, then I am happy to put the cash on the table."

The vandalism is thought to have happened on Sunday night.

Staff had to spend much of Monday clearing up the damage estimated at £500 and had to throw many of the plants away.

Others have been re-planted, but it will be a while before staff will know how many actually survive.

Greenspaces manager Paul D'Angelo said: "We take great pride in our work, and so to see hundreds of hours of effort all trashed in a few mindless minutes is devastating.

"One elderly resident was in tears when she saw the damage this morning."

Park Gardens is a remembrance garden given to the town by trader Sidney Park, in memory of his son Herbert who died in the First World War.

Anyone with information should contact police on 0845 090 1234 quoting incident 66 of July 26 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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