RESIDENTS are frustrated after vandals "ruin an important resource used by the entire community".

The Beryl Bike bay at Perdiswell Leisure Centre has been temporarily closed after vandals damaged six bikes in the past week. 

One of the incidents left a bike with extensive damage.

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The most recent attack, which occurred over the weekend, prompted Beryl to close the bike bay while the company investigated the cause and identified those responsible.

Over 7,700 Beryl bike journeys were recorded in Worcester during the first month of the scheme.  (Image: Newsquest) "This is incredibly frustrating," said councillor Karen Holmes.

"A small number of individuals are ruining an important and accessible resource for the entire community.

“We know how important the Beryl bikes are to local residents and visitors, and we’re doing everything we can to resolve the situation quickly.

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“We’ll ensure this service is returned safely for everyone to enjoy.

"We have been working on getting more bays and now we’ve lost a vital piece of the Beryl network."

Regular users of the bike bay have been notified of the temporary suspension via an in-app push notification.

The bay will remain closed until investigations are complete and efforts are underway to enhance security and prevent further damage.

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Beryl's co-founder and CEO, Phil Ellis (centre) when the bikes were first installed (Image: Newsquest) Councillor Mel Allcott said she is deeply concerned by the issue and will now look to install CCTV in the area.

She added: "It affects not only the users of the Beryl bikes but the wider community in Worcester.

"Vandalism like this is not only a criminal act but also a setback for our shared efforts to promote sustainable transport and active travel.

"While this is a city matter, we must all work together to tackle these challenges.

A spokesperson for Beryl confirmed that a spate of vandalism meant it had to take immediate action.

“It’s always disappointing to see the results of vandalism or antisocial behaviour and we would appeal to anyone misusing the bikes to please respect them and ensure they are available for other people to use," it said.

“We will continue to work with West Mercia Police to investigate any theft or criminal damage incidents and retain the option to suspend and ban/remove accounts for improper use of the scheme."

Residents can report vandalism or antisocial behaviour involving Beryl e-bikes to the business's customer support team by emailing support@beryl.cc or ringing 020 3003 5044.