From the
Exmouth Journal:
Heartless vandals left a trail of destruction around Lympstone railway station after attacking a number of floral displays.
A gang of drunken yobs are thought to be behind a daylight attack where plants and hanging baskets were uprooted and destroyed last Saturday, June 5.
The crime was condemned by councillors at a parish council meeting held this week.
The station has been adopted by villagers who have planted out and tended hanging baskets as well as planters for the benefit of passengers.
Peter Hardy, secretary of Lympstone Garden Club, said: "Many plants on the station platform were vandalised. Broken plants and soil were strewn over the platform and a new hanging basket had been ripped down and destroyed."
A group of around 10 young men are thought to have been responsible. It is believed they struck sometime between 4pm and 5pm after a pub crawl through the village.
Mr Hardy added: "As most people know, a group of volunteers within the village work hard to provide plants and keep up an attractive floral display for all to enjoy."
Viv Day from the garden club said that annual grants from First Great Western and the parish council contributed considerably to the work of volunteers. "In addition we are always grateful to receive donations from individuals who often comment that they appreciate what we do," she said. "A collecting box dedicated to the platform flowers is kept in Shears Cafe and emptied regularly. I would like to thank all those people in the village who support the station adoption project and especially those volunteers who work tirelessly to buy, plant and look after the flowers; fill the water butt, transform the embankment and generally improve the whole station area."
