IT should have been an occasion brimming with excitement and anticipation as Wareham collectively held its breath for its all important Britain in Bloom judgement.

But as dawn broke on judging day in the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society competition, it became shockingly apparent not everyone had shared this civic pride.

Residents were saddened to discover the centrepiece of their town’s 2011 entry, the North Road roundabout, had been smashed by mindless yobs, a sickening reminder of everything a community competition like Britain in Bloom stands against.

Vice chairman of Wareham in Bloom Susan Elmes, who was in Scotland at the result ceremony when she learned of the attack, said committee members were devastated.

“I’d just called back to Wareham to tell them that we’d won the silver gilt award, when I was told,” she said.

“Quite frankly, I was in tears. We put so much effort into making Wareham such a lovely place.

“To make that roundabout special only for some mindless idiot, or idiots, to decide they were going to ruin the whole thing is devastating.”

The large steel sword, a replica of the Saxon weapon found nearby during building work in 1927, had been cut from the roundabout’s stone monument, which stands at the gateway to the historic town.

Large quantities of gravel and slate were left scattered across the road.

Even after residents learned they’d been awarded the silver-gilt in the small town category, for many who had poured hours of blood, sweat and tears into the bid, this fantastic result failed to eradicate their disappointment.

PC Moira Connolly, of Wareham Police, said: “As the local safer neighbourhood officer, I am disgusted and upset for all the people who supported this community project.

“This was a malicious act, targeted toward a community project in a town very proud to have reached the finals of the national competition.”

Ahead of the damage, Wareham in Bloom chairman Cllr Eric Osmond, said: “The people and town of Wareham have been given a great lift by all the activities relating to our entry.”