A COMMUNITY is counting the cost of vandalism which could damage its chances in a regional competition to find the village with the best flower displays.

Children in Fishburn, County Durham, helped to plant bedding flowers and tubs through a project to brighten up the village, called Fishburn in Bloom.

With judges from the Northumbria in Bloom contest due to arrive in a few weeks time, residents were dismayed to wake up yesterday morning to find vandals had uprooted plants, including some which had been planted a few hours earlier.

Councillor Kester Noble, who represents the community on Sedgefield borough and Fishburn parish councils, was one of a group of residents who tidied up the mess.

He said: "It was a drunken rampage. People's efforts have been wiped out by a bunch of young hooligans.

"We are going to really struggle to impress the judges when they arrive in early July.

"We are trying to get young people involved by getting them to help with the planting, but these are older ones who are somehow getting hold of alcohol."