VANDALS have destroyed saplings just days after they were planted.

The 17 trees on Connah’s Quay High Street had been snapped in half and left on the ground on Friday night.

They were planted on Wednesday as part of a regeneration project to improve the area.

Connah’s Quay councillor Bernie Attridge is outraged at the attack and described those responsible as “idiots”.

He said: “This is reckless vandalism.

“We are trying our best to tidy up the area and they have come along and snapped
17 trees planted as part of an environmental scheme.

“It is horrific. I must have had 20 calls from people telling me how disappointed they are.

“There were going to be seats along the stretch but it makes you think if it is worth putting things there for them to be wrecked.”

Funding had come through the Welsh Assembly Government’s 10-year Deeside Neighbourhood Renewal Area plan, which aims to improve the environment of Shotton, Connah’s Quay and Queensferry.

It has emerged the scheme’s funding for 2011/12 financial year has been cut by 20 per cent.

Cllr Attridge is urging any residents who may have seen the attack to come forward and contact police.

He said: “This is not kids that have done this – it is an adult.

“I’m hoping that they can be caught from CCTV footage police are looking at.

“This is mindless vandalism and it has upset a lot of people.”