EFFORTS to brighten up Sedgefield village green for the Northumbria in Bloom competition next month have been hampered.

Vandals have taken flowers, trampled flower beds and damaged tubs.

The incidents have prompted Sedgefield Town Council to ask residents to report any vandalism. It also says that the village green is being monitored by CCTV cameras.

Mayor Linda Maddison said: "It does seem a shame that the hard work of the children and the town council gardeners, who planted the flower tubs, is being destroyed."