VANDALS who destroyed a new sign outside a lead mining museum in the North-East have been described as "sick and sad".
The 30 volunteers who run the Weardale Museum at Ireshopeburn, Weardale, County Durham, which celebrates the area's rich heritage in lead mining, is facing a £400 bill to replace the sign, which was pelted with stones.
Only recently, the group paid £1,600 for new signs on the A689 outside the museum, in a bid to build up the number of visitors.
Museum secretary David Heatherington, a retired headteacher, said: "This is wanton vandalism, which sickens and saddens you.
"At a time when we are spending money trying to attract new visitors, this is the last thing we want to happen."
The museum, which was opened in May, 1985, has specialised in tracing the history of lead mining in Weardale.
It is believed that drunken youths may have been responsible for the damage.
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