Anger after new planters destroyed in city park

Upcycled bathtub planters have been toppled over in Peterborough Central Park

A community has been left angered after upcycled planters in a city park were vandalised - a week after they were installed.

The Friends of Central Park (FoCP) and the Peterborough Civic Society groups teamed up with the charity, Up The Garden Bath, to arrange the project in Peterborough Central Park.

Local people donated seven unwanted baths, as part of the Up the Garden Bath initiative, which was started by resident Dave Poulton five years ago.

Tony Foster, from FoCP said that “the vandalism was unfortunate and frustrating”.

The initiative had installed seven upcycled baths around the park towards the café

The bathtubs, which were clad in wood to fit with the "Victorian theme of the park", have been toppled over, destroying the soil, plants and flowers.

FoCP said it had not received many reports of vandalism over the last few months, so this was "devastating".

Cambridgeshire Police said an investigation has been launched. It believes the incidents may have taken place between 20:00 BST on 29 March and 23:45 BST on 30 March.

Last year, Dave Poulton from Up the Garden Bath started Unity, a shop selling products from more than 50 small businesses at a unit in the Queensgate shopping centre.

Revenue from that shop was used to fund the project in Peterborough Central Park.

Community groups came together to plant the upcycled bathtubs, as part of an initiative by Up The Garden Bath

Yet the celebrations have turned into “disbelief" for all the groups involved in the initiative.

Mr Foster said: “It is really sad and very unfortunate. We were so pleased with the planters and delighted with the collaboration.

“It was a welcome addition to the park and took a lot of effort and contribution form the community groups.

“I am going to talk to Up the Garden Bath and the city council to see what we can do to rescue this situation quickly.”

The bathtubs have not been damaged but the soil and plants were destroyed after being toppled over