A WARNING has been given that Northallerton could have a "grass only" culture if vandals continue to attack children's play areas, trees, seats and tables used by the public.

Coun Jack Dobson, the mayor, was speaking after what he called "atrocious vandalism" in Bullamoor Memorial Park at the weekend.

Coun Dobson, who said town council workers spent nearly half their time repairing vandalism, said four trees with guards had been pulled over at the southern end of the park.

Another three had been bent to an angle of 45 degrees and one had been stripped of bark. A tree guard and trees had been thrown into the car park of the Friarage Hospital.

Fencing had been broken down at the north end of the park, where seats had also been overturned and a tree guard placed under a footbridge as a crossing point. Concrete had been knocked out of the footbridge and a hinge had been torn off a children's play area.

Coun Dobson said police had been informed and were examining CCTV footage. He added: "They have been co-operative but they don't have the manpower."

He warned: "We are going to be in a grass-only culture, with no trees, equipment or anything, if this continues. We are tired of replacing things. Out of every ten jobs our people do, four are destroyed. Our chargehand is absolutely distraught.

"We are totally exasperated. They are doing damage to all our play areas. In Bankhead Road they have torn down fencing round the toddlers' play area."

Coun Dobson said seats and tables placed in the Applegarth had been defaced again. "All this is a charge on the council tax payer. We seem unable to control youth vandalism."

Coun Dobson, chairman of Northallerton in Bloom, said that during a Saturday morning litter pick last month, council workers found 146 alcopop bottles in Bullamoor Memorial Park.

"The council is trying to brighten up the town and make it a pleasant place to live. Our gardeners have planted 7,000 plants and Yorkshire in Bloom judges come here on July 12. We are trying to win this year."