EVESHAM police are hunting 'sick' vandals who tore up flowerbeds in Abbey Park hours before the arrival of Britain in Bloom judges.

About £250-worth of damage was caused when 20 shrubs were ripped up and thrown into the park's boating lake. Red and white cones and pieces of wood were also thrown into the water during the incident, which happened between 3pm last Saturday and 9am on Sunday.

Wychavon District Council workers raced against the clock to repair the beds in time for the judging, which started at 9am on Monday.

Diana Raphael, chairman of Britain in Bloom said: "Wychavon has worked so hard to make Evesham look good and all their hard work had been destroyed. The workmen turned up two hours early on Monday to clean up and repair the damage. You would not have known but we did tell the judges and they were impressed with the level of public spirit.

"I suggest the people who did this go and see a doctor because they must be sick - I can accept stealing but just pure wanton vandalism is very, very sad. But I am very glad it has not thwarted us and we have not given up, it had just made us more determined."

Sharon Casswell, Wychavon's client services manager said: "The people responsible for this are only in the small minority but we are taking steps. Cameras are going up to prevent this kind of vandalism because we have invested a lot of money in the park."