LOCALS were left shocked after vandals ripped out memorial trees in a Weymouth public garden.

Trees were 'hacked out' of the ground at Radipole Park Gardens and a group that looks after the garden says incidents of this nature are becoming increasingly common in the area.

Kim Mason, who lives nearby in Kings Road, said she was horrified when she walked past the trees and saw what had been done.

"I couldn't believe it when I saw them. They have obviously been hacked out. I don't know if it was drunks walking home or what - even the plaque by one had been smashed.

"When I was having a look at what they had done there were people behind me who were saying how disgusted they were."

Secretary of the Friends of Radipole Park and Gardens group Jenny Sinclair said there were ongoing problems with the way youths were treating the gardens.

She said: "We have had a lot of trouble with youngsters drinking down there on a Saturday night.

"We are trying to compile a dossier of this sort of thing, which we will compile and pass on to the PACT (Partners and Communities Together) group.

"The grounds are patrolled by the PACT group and they do their best. We have had quite a few problems down there at weekends - I don't know whether it's the same group of youths every time."

Mrs Sinclair said the Friends groups had posted signs around the gardens with a number for people to contact them if they witness ed any vandalism or anti-social behaviour in the gardens.

She added that the trees were private memorial trees, planted in memory of people who had connections to the gardens.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council's information service manger Peter Gilmour said: "These senseless acts of vandalism cause distress to the families who have asked us to plant the trees in memory of a relatives.

"While we will replace the trees, it is sad that these mindless individuals attack our parks and buildings in this way."

Mr Gilmour added: "We have reported the incident to the police and hope that someone may have some information that will assist them to prosecute the offenders."

A spokesman for Dorset Police said they received two calls from concerned members of the public about criminal damage to trees in the gardens, including three commemorative trees, and they had been in contact with the local authority.

Anyone with information is asked to contact 01305 222222.