'Disgraceful' vandalism at pumpkin patch

Oscar Brown said his "heart sunk" when he saw the mess at his farm in Costock

Crops were destroyed in a "disgraceful act" of deliberate vandalism at a pick your own pumpkin patch in Nottinghamshire, police said.

It's thought vandals entered a gated field at Elms Farm in Costock and destroyed a number of pumpkins as well as signs and props, between 17:30 BST on Friday and 08:30 on Saturday, Nottinghamshire Police said.

Oscar Brown, owner of Oscar's Pumpkin Patch at Elms Farm said his "heart sunk" after arriving at the Leake Road site on Saturday on the eve of their busiest week of the year.

A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police said the criminal damage had understandably caused a lot of distress.

Mr Brown said a children's haunted house was also vandalised with animatronics costing between £200 to £400 each destroyed.

Homemade decorations including large hay bale sculptures were broken and paints taken from a container and used to paint graffiti.

Mr Brown said: "I saw poles were everywhere and then I pulled around into the patch and saw complete, mindless destruction.

"The spider had been cut open, they've smashed pumpkins, and they've been through the haunted house.

"You can't buy a lot of that stuff, you've kind of got to make them, so it's hard to put a value on it.

"I was completely gutted. Your heart just sinks."

Oscar Brown said a haunted house on the pumpkin patch was also smashed up

Mr Brown added friends and family "pulled together" so the business could open on time and thanked the community for their "kind words".

A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police added it was working with the farm's owner and carrying out local inquiries, including reviewing CCTV in the area, as part of efforts to trace those responsible.

Police have appealed for anyone with information to contact the force.