MINDLESS vandals have been criticised for smashing a £1,000 name plinth welcoming visitors to a rural country town.

The plinth located on the outskirts of Stokesley was damaged last week and locals feel it was not an accident.

The structure is made of Indian slate and it was one of six placed around the town by the Stokesley Pride in our Town Association (Spiota).

The entire project cost Spiota £8,000 and the plinths feature specially made metal name plates and they were only put in place last Autumn.

Eric Lee, treasurer of Spiota, said: "This has been mindless vandalism and it’s a nuisance.

"We’re not sure how they did it and when we first heard about we thought maybe a car had hit it but there are no tyre tracks.

"We don’t think it was a car but it does seem like there could have been a group pushing at it to see if they could get it over."

Derek Whiting, a Spiota member, said: "It’s a shame it has come to this as it’s a beautiful sign.

"It looks like whoever did could have used a hammer and they would have made a lot of noise, but it is quite isolated there."

The sign is just off the A172 Thirsk Road at the Pack Horse Bridge entrance to Stokesley and it was damaged overnight on Wednesday, May 6.

Originally Spiota got funding aid from Hambleton District and Stokesley Parish councils and other funders to boost its own money.

Now the group is looking to either replace or repair the sign as it claims the damage was an isolated incident.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Police are investigating the damage caused to the sign during what can only be described as a mindless act of vandalism which has caused upset to the local community.

"If anyone has any information or witnessed the sign being damaged call Stokesley Police on 0845-6060-247."