A SPATE of vandalism in a Tockholes wildlife area has led to a call for the public to report anything suspicious to police.

The grassland, next to the brook, opposite the Victoria Hotel, has numerous trees and shrubs.

It is described as a "haven for birds and wildlife" but during the past few years it has been vandalised several times.

Now the police and villagers are hoping to work together to track down the culprits and anyone who sees someone acting suspiciously in the area is being asked to contact the neighbourhood watch co-ordinator Barbara Willis, who will pass information on to the police.

Mrs Willis said: "It grieves us to have to report a particularly nasty and furtive case of vandalism on private land, cherished by the owner as a wildlife area, alongside the brook opposite the Victoria.

"A number of native trees have been sawn more than half way through, leaving them in a dangerous condition and liable to collapse and die sooner or later.

"This trespass and malicious damage has been repeated over several years and now the police are investigating. It is a shame because it is a haven for birds and wildlife and there's just no point to the vandalism."

Vandals snapped off branches and damaged young trees in the latest incident and have even sawn off a whole section of one mature tree.

A neighbour, who overlooks the area, said: "We can see right through to the motorway now from our house which shows how large a section of the tree has been cut down. I heard it fall at about 9am on a Sunday but it could have been cut before that and might have just fallen when the strong winds came along."

If anyone has any information about the vandalism they should contact the police on 01254 51212 or Barbara Willis on 01254 760911.