A HEARTENING outpouring of community strength and support has met vandals’ callous efforts to destroy a community garden.

Shocking pictures have emerged of the damage caused to Wibsey Community Garden over the weekend.

The culprits managed to break into the site at Wibsey Park before unleashing a cruel attack on the garden, which included slashing a poly tunnel, torching a straw greenhouse and scrawling obscene taunts and graffiti across the site.

To add insult to injury, the portable cabin used by volunteers was broken into on Monday and supplies including drinks, biscuits and tea bags were swiped.

Councillor Ralph Berry (Lab, Wibsey) has slammed the attack as an “appalling act of wanton destruction”.

The incident comes as efforts are underway to make the park a hub for the community and less than a week after vandals caused damage at Wyke Park.

Jen White, from the Wibsey Community Garden, said: “We’ve had a fantastic community response.

“Offers of assistance have been so great. It’s sad that someone would want to do this to what is essentially an environmental group valued in our local community.”

Volunteers and supporters are due to meet at 10am tomorrow to help with the clean up, but it’s thought some funds will have to be found and there are plans to set up a fundraising page to help.

Sofia Lanovy Walsh, chair of the revived Friends of Wibsey Park group, said: “It’s absolutely disgusting. We are all devastated.

“After the fun day, we had such a good response. A lot of people found out about the community garden, they had so many new visitors.

“Two weeks later, someone has decided to do this.”

And sending a message to the culprits, she added: “We are just trying to make the park nice.

“People are giving their time for free. We are not trying to make money - it’s local people working the local park, trying to make it nice for local people.

“It’s just devastating. It’s not necessary.”

Cllr Berry added: “It’s an appalling act of wanton destruction at a time when the project is making great strides.

“There has been a huge response in terms of support from the local community.

“This is a much-loved project, it’s doing a lot of good work.”

He urged people to be vigilant and said he hoped those responsible would be identified so they could be apprehended and brought to justice.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "These incidents are reported to have happened in Beacon Road between 6pm on June 9 and 8am on June 10, and Thorncroft Road between 6.30pm on June 11 and 9am on June 12.

“Anyone with information which may assist either of these investigations is asked to contact the Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101, or use the Contact Us options on the West Yorkshire Police website."