VANDALS have sabotaged Kessingland's ambitious plans to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee – by ripping up about 40 saplings planted to mark the occasion.

Over the weekend, the saplings and their covers were deliberately pulled out of the ground close to the play area by the Marram Green centre in Hall Road.

As reported in last week's Journal, a total of 105 trees were planted in Kessingland by young people and parish councillors after the village was given them by the Woodlands Trust to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

Liam Martin, chairman of the parish council, was furious after finding what the vandals had done.

He said the parish council would have to decide at its next meeting if it could afford to replace the trees.

Mr Martin said: 'We had only panted them last weekend. About 40pc of the ones at the play area have been ripped up and their covers thrown around. 'It is just mindless vandalism.

'Those trees were planted in commemoration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

'There were going to be for the enjoyment of everyone in Kessingland – but obviously that may not happen now.'

It is believed that children or young people were behind the vandalism.

Mr Martin said that if this was right, and the offenders were bored youngsters, it could yet again highlight the need for more youth facilities in Kessingland.

Suffolk police spokesman Anne-Marie Breach said the weekend vandalism had been reported to officers on Monday morning.

She said: 'We had a report that tress had been ripped up and removed and vandalised.'

As previously reported in The Journal Kessingland has ambitious plans for the Diamond Jubilee, with a number of events lined up including a fete, a beer festival and a spectacular laser show.

? Anyone with information on the vandalism should call the Lowestoft South Safer Neighbourhood Team on 101.