AROUND 30 newly-planted trees were destroyed when vandals went on a wrecking spree in a Bournemouth park.

Forty young trees were planted in Kings Park a few weeks ago but now three quarters of them have been snapped in two.

The damage was discovered by AFC Bournemouth staff on Thursday. They had bought and planted the trees around the Cherries’ new training pitch as required by their planning permission for the new facility.

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Chief executive Eddie Mitchell said: “It costs us a lot of money and a lot of time trying to make the area more pleasant.

“We are very disappointed, it seems a pointless exercise. I’m sure the majority of our fans, if not all of them, will be disappointed to see that the club’s money is being thrown away or destroyed by people from outside the club.”

The damage has also dismayed park users and Bournemouth council.

Jerry Kelsey, principal landscape and arboricultural officer, said: “The trees in this case were planted as part of the landscaping condition attached to planning consent given to AFC Bournemouth and had not long been in place. It is down to AFC Bournemouth to replace the damaged trees which is an unfortunate direct cost to them.”