MINDLESS vandals have uprooted a newly planted oak tree at a park.

The incident happened at Westleigh Park on Westleigh Lane on Monday afternoon where the tree and its protective guard were damaged.

It had been paid for out of Atherleigh councillors' Brighter Borough funding allocation.

Atherleigh councillor John Harding said: "I'm really struggling to understand the mentality of the individuals who damaged the new oak tree and its protective metal guard in Westleigh Park.

"All they achieved was to spoil it for others.

‎"The tree was planted on February 6 and funded by Atherleigh councillors from Brighter Borough funds in an effort to make a long term improvement.

"The tree had a special underground guying system and the guard was secured in concrete.

"These measures ensured that bad weather would not damage the tree.

"Whoever did this made a concerted effort to deliberately damage something that could have given pleasure to our residents for generations to come."

Cllr Harding said that the vandalism spoils the work that the Friends of Westleigh Park volunteers, Wigan Council staff and councillors have done at the site.  

He contacted the local authority's streetscene team yesterday, Wednesday, to salvage the stree with the guard set to be repaired and put in another location.

The councillor also said the community noticeboard at Briar Grove was damaged with airgun pallets last week with the perspex shattered. This is set to be repaired as well. 

Speaking about the incidents, Cllr Harding added: "I ask all residents, if you know who did this damage, get them reported as soon as possible.

"You, our residents deserve more than to let this go unchallenged.

"You deserve a nice area to live in but we need to report the minority that are causing damage to our neighbourhood."

The latest act of vandalism has happened within two weeks of another incident at Pennington Hall Park on St Helens Road when a memorial tree, that had been planted in tribute to the victims of the Manchester Arena bomb attack in May 2017, was destroyed.

If you have any information about any of the incidents contact police on 101.