Vandals have run riot at a village's war memorial ripping out wooden stakes protecting new trees.

The posts at Iwade, near Sittingbourne, were guarding a line of eight newly-planted Hornbeams which lead to a stone cairn tribute to the Fallen of two world wars.

Resident Hank Fowler, who discovered the devastation last Tuesday morning , announced: "It is with absolute disgust that someone has desecrated the war memorial in the park, ripped out stakes and attempted to burn them.

"I have seen some hijinks before but this is absolutely disgusting. I hope those involved are fully ashamed of themselves. People who gave their lives from the village should not be treated this way by mindless yobs."

Nine of the 16 stakes supporting the trees were snapped off at their base or ripped out of the earth. It is understood the vandalism took place at 3am.

Cllr Roger Clark, 77, who is a member of the parish council and is also on Swale council, said: "I was told a neighbour was woken in the middle of the night by the noise of the stakes being cracked. He could see the hooligans from his bedroom window putting the stakes into a pile to have a bonfire. Heaven knows what would have happened then."

Cllr Clark, a former Swale mayor, added: "The trees were only planted a month ago. The parish council is planning to create a tree-lined walk from the road to the war memorial which is costing hundreds of pounds. But this vandalism is getting ridiculous. There is a group of 14 to 15-year-old idiots making life a misery for villagers.

"They do anything they want but everyone is too afraid to report them. We all know who they are but we can't touch them."

Fellow resident Barrie Whiting said: "Please don't anyone say that this is because of boredom. This is vandalism and lack of respect for our village and everything and everyone in it."

The damage coincided with the remains of a fire found near the village pond along with burned school work.

Parish clerk Lynda Fisher urged residents to report all acts of vandalism to police.

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