A COUNCILLOR says he is "sickened" after vandals destroyed a flower display planted by volunteers.

Flowers were torn out of a trough in Bradshaw Brow, opposite the Latino Lounge.

It was one of 131 boxes that had been planted throughout the village earlier in the year, with money raised by volunteer group Friends of Bromley Cross.

Conservative leader Cllr David Greenhalgh, said: "It just sickens you a bit.

"All these troughs have been planted with money raised by the community and from contributions by local businesses.

"No council money goes in to them what so ever.

"I don't know why anyone would want to take it upon themselves to do this, they are just mindless idiots."

It is not known when the vandalism happened, but it was discovered on Tuesday by Denise Wilkinson, the wife of Bromley Cross councillor Alan Wilkinson.

Cllr Wilkinson and his wife planted all of the boxes in May, a task which took them three days.

The councillor, who is a member of Friends of Bromley Cross, said: "It is upsetting when something like this happens when you are trying to improve the area and brighten it up.

"It is just mindless vandalism.

"Both me and my wife are upset by it when we have put so much time and effort into it.

"We have had so many comments from people saying how lovely the boxes looked."

Following the incident Cllr Wilkinson has replaced the flowers and Cllr Greenhalgh said he has reported it to the police.

Cllr Greenhalgh added: "These flowers had purposely been planted at the end of the ward so that it was all covered and now those are the ones that have been vandalised.

"But we are not going to be beaten by it.

"We have had vandalism to flowers a couple of years ago and two people were caught for it.

"So I am putting out this appeal for anyone that might have seen something to come forward.

"I am hopeful that we will be able to find the culprits who did it."