Mystery as visitors repair vandalised Silverdale seat (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Mystery as visitors repair vandalised Silverdale seat

11:10am Friday 5th February 2010 in

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MYSTERIOUS ‘campers with a conscience’ have repaired a vandalised memorial seat at a popular north Lancashire tourist spot.

The original bench was one of two that was ripped from the footpath at Silverdale Cove by vandals and used to fuel a bonfire in August last year.

But residents were delighted to find that one of the items of street furniture has been repaired.

Andy Fletcher, who lives at Stankelt Road, said the good deed had restored his faith in visitors.

Mr Fletcher was taking pictures at The Lots recently when he saw several people setting up camp on the shore.

“I warned them that campers had caused a lot of damage there before but they were very nice about it,” he said.

“A couple of days later I was walking down there and I noticed one bench had been repaired and they had stuck a note on it saying: ‘Repaired by responsible campers’.

“I think it must have been the people I was talking to. I thought it was really nice.”

Camping regularly occurs on the shore and at the cove.

Both areas are owned by the RSPB, which discourages camping in these locations.

“A lot of people in the village think that anyone who camps on the shore is a bit of a rebel but this just shows that people can be very nice,” said Mr Fletcher.

“It is a lovely feeling to know that not everyone is out to make a mess.”

Silverdale Parish Council chair Terry Bond said: “It seems to have been mended by campers with a conscience but we don’t know who.

"We were arranging with the insurers to replace them but someone has done it for us.

"They have used good quality wood and done a really nice job.”