A CRACKDOWN on anti-social behaviour in Priory Park is promised after the bandstand was attacked by vandals.

It could include the installation of new CCTV cameras to keep an eye on the park.

Damage to the Victorian bandstand was discovered by park keeper Tony Kiesslinger on Tuesday morning.

One section of iron railing had been smashed to pieces and two others damaged. Stonework was also damaged and a ceiling panel inside was prised loose.

A nearby tree was also attacked, with bark stripped off from ground level up to about ten feet. The tree, a flowering tulip, is not likely to survive, said Mr Kiesslinger.

It was not the first attack on the bandstand over the Bank Holiday weekend. On Saturday, Mr Kiesslinger discovered litter had been piled up against it and set alight. Luckily, no damage had been done.

At Wednesday's meeting of Malvern Hills District Council, Coun Alex Stewart-Cleary told members that problems in the park would be dealt with severely.

"One of the things we're looking at will be extending the existing CCTV network to cover Priory Park," he said. "We're going to stamp this out."

Richard Allison, the council's estates officer, said repairs to the bandstand could cost as much as £5,000. "That's money we could have spent improving the park," he said.

Mr Kiesslinger said vandalism and anti-social behaviour in the park had been on the increase over the last couple of months. A security firm hired by the council does patrol the park, but not at all times.

He said park users also complained about feeling intimidated by young people skating in the park.

MHDC community safety manager Jenny Lawrence said: "Neither the district council nor the police will tolerate any further damage to public property and we will not hesitate in bringing to justice those people who are caught.

"The latest crime and disorder audit has found that anti-social behaviour such as this is of the greatest concern to district residents and as such we will stamp down hard on any offenders."

She said steps would also be taken against skateboarding, which is banned by park bylaws.

"In partnership with the police, we will be strictly enforcing the bylaws," she said.

The security patrols were introduced in the park after a spate of vandalism in summer 2001. In February 2002, the council approved the erection of extra fencing and the closure of nearby public toilets at night.