A FENCE installed to improve safety in the aftermath of an Ipswich horror crash was cut open within 20 minutes of being put up, The Evening Star can reveal today.

A FENCE installed to improve safety in the aftermath of an Ipswich horror crash was cut open within 20 minutes of being put up, The Evening Star can reveal today.

Ipswich Borough Council installed the mesh fence yesterday in response to public calls to block gaps in a hedge between houses in London Road and the dual carriageway.

It is thought that Brian and Christine Seymour of London Road and their grandsons Kieran, six, and Ethan, two, were crossing to use a gap in the hedge when they were involved in a collision with a motorbike last Thursday.

A spokesman for Ipswich council, said: “We are quite frankly amazed that somebody should do this within 20 minutes of the work being completed.

“We can't believe someone would try to cut gaps in the fence in broad daylight.”

The council has made several attempts to close gaps in the hedges in the past by planting bushes in their place but on each occasion these have been dug up.

The mesh fencing was a last effort to prevent people using short cuts to the park which lies immediately opposite.

A passing motorist notified Ipswich police, reporting that he had seen youths tampering with the fence. The police are treating the incident as criminal damage.

Lisa Miller, spokeswoman for Ipswich police, said: “This is a mindless act of vandalism and if anyone has any information we would ask them to give us a call.”

Meanwhile Mr Seymour 66 and his 58-year-old wife are still recovering in Ipswich Hospital. Six-year-old Kieran remains at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

Ron Smith, Mr and Mrs Seymour's next-door-neighbour visited the couple in Ipswich Hospital on Tuesday.

He said: “Brian had some extensive operations done yesterday because they have replated his legs and arm and his head has a nasty cut on the back.

“Christine can't talk because has a tube in her mouth and she was a little bit better and was opening her eyes and nodding and shaking her head.

“Apparently Kieran is progressing and moved his arms on Monday. They still have him sedated because they don't want him to move his legs.

“Apparently they have taken his tubes out.”

N Anyone with any information about the vandalism to the fence should call Pc Robert Smith at Ipswich police on 01473 613500.

n. What do you think should be done about the gap? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk