Woodland bridge burnt down by 'reckless' vandals

Woodscape hopes to clear away the remnants of the Platinum Jubilee Bridge

Police have condemned "reckless" vandals who burnt down a wooden footbridge built by volunteers in Huddersfield.

The Woodscape community group said the bridge in Bradley Gate Wood was set on fire before its remains were smashed into the ground at about 20:00 GMT on Monday.

Fire crews were also called out to another blaze nearby on Tuesday evening, according to the volunteers who work to protect the ancient woodland which was damaged by a fire in 1976.

West Yorkshire Police are treating the bridge's destruction as arson and urged anyone with information about the culprits to contact them.

The Platinum Jubilee Bridge was constructed by volunteers in 2022

Ch Insp Rebecca Calpin, of Kirklees District Police, said: "This has been a reckless act of vandalism which is causing understandable distress in communities, especially given the hard work put into the project to build the bridge by volunteers.

"The consequences of starting a fire in woodland during the recent spell of dry weather could have been even worse and it is important we identify and take action against those responsible."

The bridge is on a route used by hundreds of local schoolchildren and people going to work in the nearby factories and business parks every day, said Keith Hunter, one of the leaders of Woodscape.

Woodscape said volunteers spent 150 hours building the Platinum Jubilee Bridge in 2022, and it cost £500 - but it did not have the money to rebuild the bridge now.

"It is frustrating that the mindless vandalism by a few kids destroys an important bridge on a busy walking route through the woods enjoyed by hundreds of local people," said Mr Hunter.

"A lot of the work Woodscape do is about restoring the ancient woodland that was badly damaged by a fire in 1976.

"The last thing we need is another fire destroying over 30 years of conservation work."

The group hopes to clear away the remnants of the bridge to avoid it polluting the stream.

It has so far raised more than £130 in Facebook donations towards rebuilding the bridge.

"The public reaction shows just how much the work of the Woodscape volunteers is appreciated and valued by the local community," Mr Hunter added.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.