VILLAGE residents are getting sick of vandals causing havoc in their community and hope the culprits are soon bought to book.The countryside recreation officer has already told of signs being uprooted and dumped, a picnic bench and fence smashed and a toilet block in Bramford being damaged during one night of a vandalising spree.

VILLAGE residents are getting sick of vandals causing havoc in their community and hope the culprits are soon bought to book.

The countryside recreation officer has already told of signs being uprooted and dumped, a picnic bench and fence smashed and a toilet block in Bramford being damaged during one night of a vandalising spree.

Now householders living in the area of the popular riverside picnic site are being targeted.

One man, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said he returned home one evening to see hedges and bushes ripped out of his garden.

"There has been a lot of trouble here in the last weeks and even after the main vandalism of the picnic site, youngsters were there lighting a fire again the other evening."

A female resident who lives at the other end of the village but who walks her dog near the river and picnic site said she believes the youngsters may be drinking.

She said: "Several evenings lately I have been near there with my dog and the teenagers are behaving rather like they have been drinking and showing off. It is intimidating to be near there at night so I am walking my dog there in the mornings and taking him elsewhere for his after-tea walk."

An estimated £750 of damage was caused at the picnic site last Tuesday, when vandals ransacked the place.

They uprooted and dumped signs, smashed a picnic bench and fence and damaged a toilet block.

The group also started a bonfire which destroyed an area of grassland. Tools were abandoned nearby, including a small axe and lump hammers.

The site, owned by Suffolk County Council, is popular throughout the year and also attracts young people from Ipswich in good weather.

Deborah Cash, countryside recreation officer, said: "There are problems every year but it is getting worse.

"It is not only an increase of litter and dirty toilets, but the anti-social activity has escalated in to serious property damage."

She added: "This site is a lovely local amenity and respected by most users, but the actions of one group of individuals can spoil it for everyone else.

"Our rangers work incredibly hard to maintain the appearance of the site, but it can feel like fighting a losing battle when something like this happens."

Suffolk police were called to the site and questioned visitors. Anyone with any information regarding the incident is asked to contact Suffolk County Council on 01473 583123 or Suffolk police on 01473 613500