A memorial bench has been fixed after it was badly damaged by disposable barbecues.

Helen Clarke started to get messages on social media last Wednesday showing the table at Rochester Esplanade with scorch marks on it.

The £1,200 bench had been placed in February in memory of Helen's father and former engineer Phillip Jenner. The 75-year-old, who worked on oil rigs up until age 50, died of lung cancer in June last year.

Helen, of Witham Way, Strood, was told two disposable BBQs had been used on the table – melting the surface.

Speaking previously, the mum-of-two said: "I saw that and thought 'where is the respect?' How do you stop mindless vandals? I do not know.

"Maybe it was not deliberate but they should have thought. If you go to a place like that, you should be able to enjoy the space. It just shows a lack of respect, which is common these days."

The 50-year-old says the bench was special to all the family and sits close to where her dad lived with mum Sheila, 73.

Since the incident, Helen has been contacted by different groups offering to fix the bench but was surprised to see online it had already been repaired by cleaning service Medway Norse.

In a post this weekend, the Friends of Rochester Churchfields and Esplanade said: "Last week a newly installed memorial bench in Rochester's Esplanade Park was apparently ruined by some people who thought it was OK to use disposable barbecues on a resin picnic bench.

"Thankfully, Medway Norse have done a sterling job of repairing the bench.

"We were absolutely horrified to see the damage caused last week, but it is heartening to know that this has been minimised so quickly.

"Although barbecues are technically banned in the Esplanade Park, it is up to the council to enforce this."

Helen added: "Thank you everyone for their kind comments and to Medway Norse for the speedy repairs, as a family we are truly grateful.

"A very sad family is now happy that us and all those that sit there can enjoy the picnic table again.

"I cannot believe it. I have not been able to go down there since it happened, I did not want to look at it but now I can. I just cannot believe it, it has made my day."

"I have got over the anger, it is more sadness now that someone is that stupid. I am sure it was not intentional but it makes you sad more than anything."

Her dad Phillip was a volunteer at the Gillingham-based historic paddle steamer Medway Queen. It was while working there that a fall led to medics diagnosing his incurable cancer.

A spokesman for Medway Norse said: "We were pleased to be able to offer support to restore the memorial bench for Mr Jenner’s family. We believe in improving people’s lives and giving back to our community, and in being able to recover this bench for Phillip’s family gives us great pride."