VANDALS have destroyed the work of children who helped plant trees at the Riverside Park community project.

About 70 trees, many planted at the park in Riverside Road by primary school students, were ripped up and thrown across the playing area.

Mr Ian Mather, a conservation manager with Watford Council's parks department, said dirt had been deliberately spread underneath the playground equipment.

He said: "The vast majority of kids come here to use the park and don't cause any problems.

"As usual it is the few who spoil it for the many. It is people coming over especially to cause a bit of mayhem."

The incident, which took place on Wednesday or Thursday, December 12 or 13, is the second case of vandalism at the site.

There are still the remnants of racist graffiti on a wall, despite repeated efforts to remove it.

Mr Mather said about £600,000 had been spent setting the grant-aided park up.

In an effort to ensure it met community needs and was fully supported, the project was jointly undertaken by Watford Council and local groups.

Complete with floodlit skateboard ramps, it was designed to give children in the area of Riverside Road somewhere of their own to go.

Mr Mather said all the trees, which were killed by frost, would be replaced.