Fury has erupted in Seaton as an orchard that was planted by village children has been trashed at the weekend.

The act has been described by residents as a ‘scandal’ and a ‘senseless attack’.

Last February children from Seaton Junior School helped Sustrans with a project to plant damson, blackcurrant and apple fruit trees and made a bug hotel and hedgehog shelter, on land next to the cycle path.

Willow fencing and an archway led to the ‘Little Orchard’ made over two days by willow weaver Phil Bradley.

Some of this fencing and the archway has been destroyed in the attack.

Ken Slone said: “When I went to see it it was heartbreaking. The fence has been trashed. It was ok on Saturday, so I think it may have been done on Sunday.

“The school did it during lockdown and the kids were really proud of it. Seaton Junior School looked after it. It hurts you especially when it was a project for the kids. The way it was trashed and just vandalised. At 7.30pm on Saturday it was untouched, so it was done in darkness.”

At least two of the fruit trees have also been vandalised.

Chairman of Seaton Parish Council Danny Horsley said: “It’s mindless vandalism that has made everyone angry in the village, I really feel for the school children who worked hard with Sustrans to create something that everyone appreciates.

“This was an overgrown area that was transformed into a mini orchard including a bug hotel. The making of this has really improved the area and created a talking point for many. Many people have stopped to read the signage and admire the work done, this project has really cheered people up.

“I speak with everyone in the village, we are completely sickened by this senseless attack.”

Mrs McGlasson, assistant headteacher of Seaton Junior School said: “School were very proud to be part of this lovely activity within the community, when our children assisted with creating the orchard.

“We are extremely disappointed to hear that the area has been wilfully vandalised over the weekend. The children will be saddened by this, as are we.”

Pauline Ireland, from Seaton, said she was gutted about the damage. She said: “I’m absolutely gutted, we were waiting for the trees to bear fruit and obviously the children of the junior school contributed to the planting. It would have been a great opportunity for the community to get together, I think the culprits should be made to pay and to fix it.”

Another Seaton resident described the vandalism as “a scandal.”

Nikki Wingfield, who was working for Sustrans at the time of the project, but no longer works for the organisation, has offered to come back and try and fix the willow. She said: “I’m still very much involved. I’m planning to speak to the volunteers and see if we can come back on Wednesday. Sustrans volunteers and local people will try and make it good. We will put it back as best we can.”

Nikki added if anyone would like to donate dwarf fruit trees to replace the missing ones, they will need to be MM106 root stock.