COMMUNITY volunteers in Stacksteads are picking up the pieces after vandals smashed up stone tables and a landmark sculpture.

Vandals caused almost £1,000 worth of damage when they struck sometime this week at the Coming Full Circle sculpture situated in Moss Meadow, off Newchurch Road.

They pushed the tops off stone picnic tables created by Stacksteads Riverside Park Group, a charity set up to improve the area, and kicked down the dry stone wall of the sculpture which was designed by internationally renowned artist Chris Drury.

Chris has worked on sculptures all over the world including Scandinavia and came to Rossendale around five years ago to design the sculpture as part of the Irwell Sculpture Trail.

Unfortunately, it's not the first time the sculpture, which was designed to reflect the area's mill heritage, has been vandalised.

Michael McShea, Stacksteads councillor, said: "Every year since it was built around five years ago we have had to deal with this extremely annoying problem of kids vandalising it.

"The kids have shoved all the walls off, burning it with an aerosol of some kind.

"The council have agreed to refit the table tops and to repair the sculpture yet again. They are fitting stronger brackets to connect the legs to the tops of the tables.

"This is getting beyond a joke and it's about time that they realised that's it's costing their parents money each time they do this because the repairs are paid for out of tax-payers' money."

Coun Christine Lamb, a member of Stacksteads Riverside Park Group, added: "It's awful, especially as it keeps happening. We are trying to improve the area but this is how it gets treated."

A police spokesman said a report of vandalism was being investigated. He said: "The incident is being looked at by officers in Stacksteads."

Anybody with information can contact police on 01282 425001.