A Bradford vicar today condemned vandals who laid siege to a church garden and chopped-down trees which had been planted just weeks earlier by parishioners.

The Reverend Gordon Dey, Vicar of Tong Parish, said he was saddened by the attack on the gardens outside the Tong Upper Room, Tong Street, Bradford.

The gardens had been created just two months earlier by a group of green-fingered volunteers who were keen to create a new community resource.

They funded the project themselves and planted a number of ornamental trees.

But a group of vandals have since targeted the recently-completed garden, snapping four of the six trees and leaving a trail of destruction.

Today Mr Dey appealed for those responsible to leave the garden alone.

"The garden was our attempt to create something new and attractive for the people of Tong Street," he said. "Our congregation members have given a lot of time and bought their own plants to make it into something really beautiful.

"These trees have only been in for two months and to just come along and destroy them seems to utterly pointless and futile. It is just so disappointing."

Mr Dey said he was upset that the vandals had chosen to attack the gardens after so much hard work had been put into them by volunteers.

"The garden for many years has needed some tender loving care and we decided over the winter we would make it something special," he said. "I think we have achieved that, and this garden will still be special."

And Mr Dey said efforts will be made to repair the damage, restoring the garden to its former glory.

"We are determined not to let these people get the better of us," he said. "I would urge whoever did this to come and talk to me because they have obviously got problems. Please leave us alone, but do come and talk to me."