Parish Councillors in Caterham- on-the-Hill were shocked to find that their programme of tree planting has been subject to vandalism and, as the photo below shows, the strong and well protected trees on Westway Common have been destroyed. The Council undertook the planting last year with advice from tree specialists, as part of the celebration of the ten year anniversary of the founding of the Council.

Mary Mountain, this year's Chairman of the Council said: "We are particularly shocked at this wanton act of vandalism. We will now have to consider what extra steps we need to protect our other trees and the plaques which mark them.

But we will not allow ourselves to be put off from this programme by louts. It's such a sad thing that there are those who have so little respect for the amenities of others. It is likely that we will re-plant the trees, but we will need to take extra steps to protect them in future which will cost more money.

"A kind lady resident from nearby flats had been coming to Westway Common to water the trees every day. We would like to thank her for looking after the trees before they were vandalised."