VANDALS have targeted Westhoughton train station for the third time.

One of the three wooden stationmaster statues was damaged in an attack over the weekend, which has been called “mindless vandalism” by Councillor David Chadwick.

The sculpture, named Arthur Station by residents, was made by local carpenter Mike Lloyd and has had its arms and ear broken off and stolen.

Chair of Friends of Westhoughton Station, Stephen Freeborn, has appealed to the vandals to “please stop”.

He said: “Unfortunately it is the third time we have suffered vandalism. We had pottery animals which had been made by local children smashed in October 2014 then in January 2015 we had the arms torn off one of our giant wooden stationmaster statues and more pottery smashed and now we have suffered again.

“A great deal of effort has gone in over the past three years to improve the environment and the station, to make it a pleasant place to be. We have been unable to find the arms and ear so we will have to make new ones. Whoever is determined to wreck it the station— please stop.”

Since 2012 the volunteer group has been working to improve the station for commuters and have received certificates of achievement from Westhoughton Town Council for its work.

It has also been nominated for a national station garden award.

Councillor David Chadwick has been a staunch supporter of the volunteer group. He said: “It is just mindless vandalism, I don’t understand what they get out of destroying something that is there to make things better and brighter for people. The station is almost unrecognisable from two years ago, the group has done a fantastic job and I am mortified that this has happened again. I think we need to look through the CCTV and try and identify the culprits.”

Volunteers of the Friends of Westhoughton Station meet every Sunday at 10am to maintain the grounds.

To become a volunteer for the group go to: http://friends-of-westhoughton-station.org.uk/