Decorations trashed just hours after Pontefract liquorice festival ends

Firefighters were called to the scene to reports that a planter was on fire

Just hours after the festival finished, firefighters were called to the Valley Gardens to reports that a planter was on fire. A bench had also been damaged.

The vandals also destroyed displays in the centre and decorations were stolen and damaged on Southgate.

21 photos from all the sweet fun of Pontefract Liquorice Festival 2019

Colin White, chairman of Pontefract in Bloom, who organises the floral displays and planters in town, said: “I’d gone to the Valley Gardens with my Grandchildren and I couldn’t believe it.

"They’d damaged a bench and annihilated a planter.

“It’s compulsive arson. The Valley Gardens seems to be the target.

“They are trivial, stupid acts but this could lead to someone losing their life.”

Vandals trashed decorations especially created for Pontefracts Liquorice festival

Up to 25,000 people attended the festival this year

Phil Cook, Vice Chair of the Pontefract Civic Society said: “The people of Pontefract came together to make the decorations for the town.

“The businesses and organisations make Pontefract a better place to live. The vandals won’t put us off.”

Paul Cartwright, chair of the Civic Society said : “Things like this do unfortunately happen. On the evenings in particular.

"It disrupts all the volunteers hard work. I really hope the culprits can be caught.”

The incidents have been reported to the police.