VANDALS have stripped the bark from two trees, meaning they will have to be cut down.

A councillor has hit out at the wanton damage to the whitebeams near Kirkbright Close, Lingdale, east Cleveland.

Councillor Steve Kay, who represents Lingdale on Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said: "The trees are in a small attractive cultivated area owned by Coast and Country Housing. They have taken years to grow to their present size but now, sadly, they have been destroyed in a few seconds.

"Hopefully, they can be replaced but it could be as long as 20 years before new trees reach the maturity of these two fine whitebeams, which flowered every spring.

"It was heartbreaking to see the damage."

The chairman of Lingdale Lift-Off, Mike Jefferson, said: "When residents are pulling together to improve the village for the Northumbria in Bloom competition, it is a tragedy that there are still people about who could carry out this act of wanton destruction. I hope any witnesses will come forward so the perpetrators can be brought to book.

"Nevertheless, we shall carry on with our village improvements, despite this setback."