Bollard ripped out before car stunt yobs damage Whittington Castle grounds

Staff at the castle attempted to address problems of drivers taking to their grounds to perform 'doughnuts' on the grass, which was leaving substantial damage.

However a bollard put in place to protect the area was ripped down last week and more damage was caused.

The incident has been reported to the police, and Sue Ellis from the castle is disappointed that people have chosen to damage the community run area.

She said: "We had a problem with people going onto the green and effectively doing doughnuts and cutting up the grass.

"We put a bollard up there to stop up, and the problem seemed to have stopped for a few months.

"But last Thursday it was ripped out and it seemed to start again.

"There has been damaged caused and we have reported it to the police.

"There is no cost to the damage on the grass as it will all grow back, but it is disappointing because it is a community run castle.

"It is our 10th anniversary this year and it isn't what we wanted to happen.

"We don't usually get criminal damage at the castle, we have the odd bench damaged but that is about it."

The castle is the only one in England which is community run.

Shropshire councillor for Whittington Steve Charmley said it wasn't a problem the community usually had, but if levels rose there would have to be something done.

He added: "I know there are youngsters who park up there at night, and this incident is not the sort of thing you want to see in a quiet village.

"The level of crime and anti-social behaviour in Whittington is very low, we just sometimes have young people who want to blow off a bit of steam.

"But if other incidents do occur there will need to be something to prevent it."