HEARTLESS vandals have destroyed a tree planted in memory of a woman by her family.

A young oak planted to honour the memory of Patricia Anne Jackson was snapped in two during a spree of destruction at Nunroyd Park on Saturday night.

The hooligans also caused at least £500 worth of damage when they smashed a cricket screen at Green Lane Cricket Club. A further £2,000 worth of damage has been caused to fencing there over the past few weeks.

Mrs Jackson died in 2008 at the age of 55. Her family planted an oak sapling close to the park’s pond. They also put a bench close by with a memorial plaque which makes it clear the oak is dedicated to her.

The people responsible for damaging the tree have been attacked by Green Lane official Tommy Powell.

“It is just mindless vandalism,” he said. “It is just so stupid. I can’t understand why they did that. It was left for for someone as a memorial.

“We are used to the vandalism but the really sickening part is what they have done to this tree which was planted by the family of a woman who had died.”

He added: “It was growing nicely, but now I don’t know if the family even know what has happened.”

Vandalism has been a persistent problem at Green Lane for a number of years.

Mr Powell said: “They have pushed the screen over and have jumped on it and smashed it all up. It has got to be more than two people to be able to push it over. For the wood alone the cost will be close to £500.

“We are in a public park so we just have to put up with it.”

The damage just weeks before the start of the season has hit the club hard during difficult times.

“It is getting harder and harder to raise money or to get sponsorship now,” Mr Powell said.

The damage is the latest in a long line of incidents over a number of years.

In 2009 a joint campaign was launched by police, Leeds City Council and club officials to stop hooligans who were driving over the cricket field and adjacent parkland. They stressed that local people could hold the key to identifying those responsible.

In 2013 joyriders left a trail of destruction, and hundreds of pounds worth of damage, after driving over the cricket pitch. That incident came just three years after thousands of pounds had to be spent on relaying and re-planting the pitch after it was vandalised twice within the space of just six weeks.

The club will hold a fundraiser at its clubhouse on Friday, April 10, when it presents an evening with Dominic Matteo with Jed Stone.

The event, which starts at 7.30pm, will include a raffle, memorabilia auction and pie and peas. Tickets cost £20 per person and are available from Jean on 07548 965050 or Ian on 07758 426146.