Vandals rip up flowers planted in tubs dotted around Newport town centre
Vandals ripped flowers out of tubs in a town centre and dumped them all over the pavements.
Yobs attacked large planters on The Square, Newport, leaving their contents strewn across the paths. They also hit planters by the canal.
The plants are installed and cared for by the Heart of England in Bloom volunteers.
Councillor Peter Scott, chairman of Newport Town Council's Leisure and Environmental Services committee, said: "When I walked through on Thursday morning most of the plants had been pulled up.
"All of the effort by the Heart of England in Bloom team is ruined by a few moments of thoughtlessness."
Police were yesterday trawling through CCTV footage trying to identify the culprits.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, vandals attacked a fountain in a garden in Chetwynd Road in the early hours of last Tuesday morning, causing about £300 of damage.
Homeowner Rachael Rigby said: "Mindless vandals destroyed our fountain which was a gift for my husband from his parents."
West Mercia Police spokesman Chris Ammonds said investigations were ongoing. He added: "The fountain was pushed over causing it to smash.
"CCTV shows five individuals running in the general area at 2.17am. Local police teams are looking into it."
Councillor Scott urged people to report vandalism. He said: "It is important people report things like this to the police. I am sure they will do what they can if they know about it. There is CCTV in the town and people should know that it can be used in evidence."
Mr Ammonds said a 19-year-old man had been arrested for stealing an artificial tree outside Newport Book Shop, in Upper Bar, on October 2.
He was dealt with by a community resolution.
