Thugs vandalise war memorial with paint for a 'bit of a laugh'

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    The lawless youths first broke into a storage area to steal red paint before defacing the memorial, outraged volunteers say. The lychgate – also known as the dovecote – is a Grade II listed war memorial in Rowntree Park, York, and houses plaques linked to World War One and World War Two.

    A spokesman for Friends of Rowntree Park, a group of volunteers who run the park, said: “There is a fair amount of mess and destruction for no real reason other than ‘a bit of a laugh’.”

    He said it was “sad times” for the charity.

    The yobs also stole bird feeders and poles from the gardens, Yorkshire Live reports.

    The spokesman said that one person had reported seeing youths with a wheelbarrow between 8.30pm and 9pm on a road near the park.

    “We are asking if there is any CCTV footage or witnesses,” he added.

    City of York Council are helping clean the mess while police investigate.

    Friends of Rowntree Park, which is a registered charity, runs gardening sessions and mental health and well-being programmes at the park.

    The park was donated to the people of York by the Rowntree family in 1921.

    Historic England listings say the memorials were installed in 1921 to commemorate Rowntree Cocoa Works’ employees killed or injured in the First World War and, subsequently, to honour those who died in the Second World War.

    A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “It’s such a disappointment to see our parks and opens spaces and those who work and volunteer to tend them, treated with such disrespect.

    “The fact that someone has chosen to break into the storage facility and take tools and paint and use them to graffiti the park, which is there for their benefit, beggars belief.

    “This incident is believed to have taken place at some point overnight on Monday 24 May 2021. Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area of Rowntree Park, or who may have captured CCTV or doorbell footage is asked to contact 101, select option 2 and speak to the Force Control Room. Please quote reference 12210125455.”



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