A FAMILY is devastated after vandals ruined years of work when they trashed allotments in Castle.

A greenhouse, which had just been built by Andrew Newman and his son Laurence, 11, was smashed during the attack.

The vandals struck on Sunday night, attacking sheds, plants and the greenhouse.

Andrew's mother Doreen said Andrew and Laurence, who live in Rudheath, had spent hours working in the allotments.

They were unaware of the vandalism as the Guardian went to press

Doreen said: "They will be absolutely devastated. It is terrible.

"They have spent so long working on that greenhouse.

"Laurence will be particularly upset.

"It is not the first time this has happened."

Peter Dykes, who is the groundsman and in charge of the allotments on behalf of the Queesngate Allotment Group, slammed those he believed to be responsible.

He said: "There is a bandstand in Verdin Park, close to Northwich Victoria Infirmary, where gangs of youths congregate and drink.

"Once they have got drunk, they then go and trash the allotments."

He said this was the third time the allotments had been damaged in the past two months.

Two CCTV cameras were already installed and he had put in for a grant to have a monitor.

Peter added: "We are absolutely at the end of our tether. They have totally wrecked the place."