Appeal for witnesses after beach toilet vandalised

The toilet at Widemouth Beach was broken using a large rock

A council has appealed for witnesses after a toilet was vandalised.

Poundstock Parish Council, in Cornwall, said the bowl in the women's toilets at Widemouth Beach was broken with a heavy rock "probably on Monday afternoon".

The toilets, near Bude, were recently handed over to the council by Cornwall Council and are in the process of being refurbished.

Stephen Blake, chair of the council, said he was "extremely disappointed that this happened in a time when people are counting pennies - the perpetrator should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves".

Poundstock parish, where the toilet is located, only has about 100 houses including holiday homes

Mr Blake said vandalism was rare in the parish, which only has about 100 houses including holiday homes.

But he said there had been some graffiti and a broken lock at the toilet earlier in the year as well as a churchyard wall which was "badly vandalised with hammers" a few weeks ago.

'Mini crime wave'

He said timing of the latest vandalism, which happened a few days after a trailer full of surfboards was stolen from the same beach, was "coincidental", though there was "no proof the two were related".

"It's almost a mini crime wave," he said.

Mr Blake said "someone went to a lot of effort" to find the rock and break the toilet and he thought it "wasn't a child" who lifted it, because of the size and weight.

Mr Blake said the council was waiting for a quote to replace the toilet, but it would "not be cheap".

"Unfortunately, the cost of incidents like this end up being paid for by residents through increased council tax," he said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Devon and Cornwall Police or Crimestoppers.