IT is difficult to find the words to describe the people responsible for vandalising the Lights of Love Christmas tree (and remain within the law).

For most of us, it is almost impossible to imagine how such an act of pure vandalism could have happened.

To go as far as to cut the wires and remove individual bulbs before smashing them shows a particularly nasty streak.

More than 670 people had dedicated lights on the tree, helping to raise £12,000 for the Rose Hill hospice and treating us all to a festive display in the process.

Each year the tree raises thousands of pounds of vital funding for the hospice, which has been a part of this city's life for more than 20 years.

Only this year it got permission to go ahead and build a 15-bed palliative care centre in Spetchley, having successfully raised £5.25m. Each penny a labour of love.

Now its staff must spend valuable time and money repairing the damage caused by a mindless few.

The destruction of the lights was not only an insult to those who had paid for and dedicated them to the memory of precious loved ones, but to our entire city.

The vandals trampled over the feelings of those who had taken the time and effort to take part in the custom, without a second thought.

But before we all drown in the despair of it all, remember - 1,000 people turned up at Worcester Cathedral to watch the lights go on.

The damage was probably caused by a couple of sad vandals at most. It would seem good still outweighs bad.