THE last bench standing in a popular nature reserve has been destroyed by vandals.

Volunteers with Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT) discovered the mangled bench in Seven Acres Country Park yesterday morning.

The bench, handcrafted from a fallen ash tree by volunteers, had been ripped from the ground and dumped along the river bed.

It is the third bench to be targeted by vandals in recent months.

But volunteers said they would not be discouraged.

John Franklin, 76, has been volunteering at the park for 14 years.

As founder of Friends of Seven Acres volunteer group, Mr Franklin works alongside the LWT, supervising volunteers in the park’s upkeep.

He said: “It’s sheer mindless vandalism. Wanton destruction pure and simple. Now there’s no place left to sit.

“But I think I speak for all the volunteers when I say we will not be discouraged and we will endeavour to replace the benches.

“We will not let vandals undermine our efforts.”

Mr Franklin helped build the benches by hand, recycling ash wood from fallen trees.

The benches were placed at beauty spots along the Bradshaw Brook nature trail, providing vantage points for the river and its wildlife.

He said: “You use to be able to sit here and watch kingfishers sweep over the river.

“In the evenings you can even see deer, just a mile from the town centre.

“It’s so peaceful. Why would anyone want to spoil it?”

Mr Franklin said the park is no stranger to vandalism.

He described how a swathe of wooden fencing had recently been cuts loose from its posts.

But the LWT said they have no “specific concerns with anti-social behaviour”.

A spokesman for LWT said: “Yes, three prominent benches on Seven Acres have been vandalised over a period of time.

“Unfortunately, all of them will have to be replaced rather than repaired.

“But the problem is no worse than at any other urban nature reserve.

“Replacing benches is something we will be involved with in partnership with Bolton Council and the Friends of Seven Acres group, and community volunteers.

“The issue is securing funds. No funding has been secured thus far.”