POLICE patrols in Meltham are to be stepped up after vandals struck again at the town's main park.

Park benches were ripped from the ground and smashed up and flagstones were pulled up and broken in Robert Ashton Memorial Park.

The damage was discovered by someone locking the park gates for the night.

They told Meltham Town Council clerk, Pat Radford, who then told the police.

She said the park had become a constant target for vandals.

She said: "We have no idea who it is but we get targeted.

"A few weeks ago all the picnic tables were wrecked. We mended them and they were soon vandalised again.

"It is an ongoing problem of mindless damage.

"It is so irritating especially for the caretaker who spends time fixing things just for them to be broken."

Mrs Radford said that the constant damage was costing the town council, which looks after the park, quite a lot of money.

She said: "It is the biggest outlay of expenditure for the council.

"It comes from everybody's pocket in Meltham.

"It gets up your nose because it is just so pointless."

She said anyone who knows who is doing the damage, or who sees it happening, can contact her on 01484 851480.

She will report any information to the police.

Pc Dave McSweeney, of Huddersfield police, said: "It is a regular problem in that area and police are investigating.

"As a result of this there are going to be increased patrols in the area."