Fountain in Dane John Gardens, Canterbury, targeted by bubble pranksters for second time in weeks
Published: 08:42, 05 March 2023
Updated: 11:58, 05 March 2023
Pranksters have poured soap into a park fountain for the second time in less than a month.
The water feature in the Dane John Gardens, Canterbury, was pictured overflowing with bubbles yesterday evening.
A Christ Church University student was on his way to work at around 6pm last night when he spotted the foam-covered fountain.
He captured the photos on his way home at around midnight saying that he found the prank amusing.
This morning it was also snapped by an onlooker who said "it smelt nice".
The fountain was last targeted on Saturday, February 11. A picture of the cascading bubbles was shared in the Canterbury Residents Group on Facebook, with the jokers' antics dividing opinion.
Lola Hopkins, who took the photo at the time, said: "Someone's given the fountain a good old clean".
But others were less impressed, Steve Hayes asked: "Who cleans that mess up? Who takes care of any wildlife affected?"
Group admin, Edd Withers, said that while he doesn't support vandalism, this is "the oldest prank in the city".
The public fountain was installed in 1999 when the park was being refurbished and has been subjected to mischief ever since.
A picture from 2011 shows how it was also previously left brimming over with bubbles.
Meanwhile, in 2002 a park keeper spotted a prankster pouring two bottles of shampoo into the fountain.
He called police, who arrested the culprit.
When the 42-year-old appeared before magistrates, the court was told it cost nearly £100 to clean out the fountain and its filters.
Pranksters also targeted a waterfall in Madeira Walk, Ramsgate back in 2017, making it full of foam and bubbles which spilled out into the road.
The same waterfall had been vandalised a few years prior to this and been turned completely green.
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Megan Carr