Vandals have ripped up a community orchard just 24 hours after it was planted.
Eight new fruit trees were planted at Westburn Park in Aberdeen as part of a project the Friends of Victoria and Westburn Park hoped would last for years to come.
Youngsters from Skene Square Primary School helped plant the apple, plum and pear trees.
But on Friday night, “mindless” vandals wrecked the mature trees, which were over five feet tall, in what was last night described as a “targeted” campaign of destruction.
The spree came months after a toilet block in nearby Victoria Park was targeted twice in a month.
Large stones were thrown through the window of the facility in the scenic park in Aberdeen, smashing glass which was several inches thick in December.
Peter Stephen, chairman of the Friends group, said: “It is a real shame given the amount of time spent organising this and the involvement of local school children.
“When we found out the news I was shocked. There just seems to be no reason for it, it’s completely mindless.”
The orchard project was supported by a £300 donation from the Aberdeen Rotary Club, who also support crocus bulb plantings in the park in support of polio charities.
Gavin McEwan, of the rotary club said: “The trees are tall so it would have taken some effort to destroy them like that.
“Someone must have taken time to target them- but I can’t understand what there is possibly to object to about a community orchard. “
Rosemount and Midstocket councillor Bill Cormie said: “I really feel for the teachers and children that their orchard has been mindlessly attacked like this.
“Many of these kids do not have gardens of their own, that’s why the gardening club was set up to give them more exposure to nature.
“It is sad and pathetic that anyone would do this and I’d ask anyone who has seen or heard anything to contact the police.”
A police spokesman said: “I can confirm the incident has been reported to us and we are investigating.”