BRIDGWATER Town Councillors have expressed their outrage as two trees have been vandalised at a new park area.

Residents noticed two trees in the Brewery Field - which was recently opened for public use as a park - had been stripped of their bark on the morning of Wednesday, May 8.

Councillor Brian Smedley (Westover) visited the scene and took pictures to send to new town council amenities boss Scott Mason, who immediately undertook an inspection by tree experts to see if they could survive despite the damage.

Cllr Smedley said “These days we’re all of us tree huggers as they’re so important and we don’t have enough of them, but some of us it seems are tree muggers.

"I guess it’s education. It’s your own world you're destroying.”

Cllr Tim Mander added: “Hugely disappointed to hear of and see the damage to two recently planted trees which are an important part of the redesigned Brewery Field.

"Trees are an essential part of the ecosystem and stripping them of bark can be devastating to a tree’s chance of survival.

"I hope the culprit is identified and is forced to face the consequences of their actions.

"Such wanton vandalism is unacceptable and totally unwarranted."

Cllr Jacqui Solomon, soon to be Mayor of Bridgwater, and keen environmentalist, said: “Very sad to see the damage done to these well established trees.

"I’m sure that it was only done out of curiosity not malice but unfortunately removing bark in this manner is likely to be the death of these trees.

"This act that probably only entertained for a few minutes will have sad consequences and funds will need to be found to replace the trees.”