Vandals went on an overnight wrecking spree at a park in Malvern.

People were greeted by a scene of devastation in Priory Park. Plants had been ripped up and thrown into the lake, flower beds trampled across and litter - including empty drink cans - strewn across the ground. Youths have been blamed for the mess.

A £600 tree was also uprooted in the incident.

Malvern Hills District Council parks supervisor Tony Kiesslinger spent the morning replanting the flower beds.

"I've put back about 60 to 70 plants, including the tree, which was pushed right out of the ground. I don't know if it will survive, to be honest, it's a big concern," he said.

Mr Kiesslinger believes the cost could be significant: "Each of the plants cost about £5 and we don't know how many will need to be replaced. I don't think these people realise the amount of damage they are doing - they are spoiling things for the whole community." Christine Wild, who walks through the park most mornings, was upset at the damage.

She said: "There's quite often some vandalism in the park but this is exceptional, I've never seen anything quite as bad.

"Quite a few people, including school children, were quite obviously upset by it as they walked through."