VOLUNTEERS are urging residents to remain vigilant following acts of vandalism at the local park over Christmas.

James Davies, treasurer of Connah’s Quay Angling Club, said vandalism at the Rosie pond, Wepre Park has continued throughout the festive period with fishing lines being damaged.

It follows from a number of incidents during the summer, of damage to the club signage.

He told the Leader: “It’s quite disappointing really, it takes our guys quite a lot of effort to put the lines up every year.

“It’s a difficult one really because of the placement being in a public park, it’s quite difficult to stop it. All we can do is to deter people and ask the public and members to stay vigilant. If they see something, tell someone. There are numbers on all notice boards.

“We were targeted quite a lot over summer but mainly to the club signage. There was damage throughout the park but we were quite badly hit.

“We have got a good vision for the Rosie, we want it to be one of the best club waters in North Wales.”

The club is in the process of applying for funding from different organisations, including when the Police and Crime Commissioner announces the next submissions for the PACT funding.

James said any funding they do get, will go towards making the area a better place for the community.

He added: “We want a venue that is completely disabled friendly too so we want to get all the paths done but vandalism like this sets us back. It knocks us because at the end of the day we are trying to provide a facility for the local community and for people outside the area.

“I would say stop. Why are you doing this? The lines are there for a reason, to protect the fish stock and everything that lives in the pond,

“We are all volunteers We put in hundreds of hours every year just to maintain the pond, to make it a better place to come and enjoy.

“The club has invested a lot of money into the place and we have little idiotic things that’s like a thorn in the side.”

Councillor Ian Dunbar said he encouraged the fishing club to apply for the PACT funding so they can receive funds to reduce the levels of anti-social behaviour.

He said: “They try hard to provide something people can enjoy. They have a programme for young people to keep them off the streets to prevent anti-social behaviour and give them something to do but there’s people that go there and cause havoc. They want to get more people interested in fishing rather than ruin it. We are asking people to be more careful about what they are doing.”