Vandals destroy bungalow due for demolition (From Bournemouth Echo)

Vandals destroy bungalow due for demolition

1:00pm Thursday 29th July 2010 in

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VANDALS gave workmen an unwanted helping hand by knocking down a derelict Ferndown bungalow.

The Dudsbury Avenue property was due for demolition this Monday.

But someone as yet unknown clambered into a massive digger on the site and proceded to raze the house to the ground.

Contractor Britannia, which will build seven flats in its place, brought staff in early to fix the damage and make the site safe.

A Britannia contracting manager, David Watson, said: “They made a complete mess of the job.

“We like to segregate the brickwork and the timber and recycle everything we can, but it’s all been completely destroyed.”

The digging machine had been dropped off at the site, and the keys were hidden.

Dorset Police were alerted by a call from puzzled nearby residents at 12.15 in the morning.

Neighbour Helga Millard said: “The noise woke us. I got up and listened out of the window. We knew building work was due soon, but just couldn’t understand why they’d be doing it in the middle of the night.”

The culprit escaped through neighbouring gardens, setting off floodlights.

A 19-year-old Ferndown man has been arrested and charged with criminal damage.