Heartbreak over Iron Age hillfort vandalism

A firepit was found with litter left where the ground had been dug out

An Iron Age hillfort has been targeted by vandals who have dug firepits, ridden mountain bikes over it and ripped gates off their hinges.

English Heritage said it was a criminal offence to cause damage to Old Oswestry Hillfort in Shropshire, which is a scheduled monument.

Curator Win Scutt said he was devastated to see the damage caused and theorised it might have been caused by teenagers who did not understand the importance of the site.

"When you see this kind of damage, it just breaks your heart," he added and urged people to report anyone vandalising the site to police.

The Iron Age hillfort has legal protections as it is a scheduled monument

"Old Oswestry is one of the finest Iron Age hillforts in the whole country and really famous," he said.

Mr Scutt added whoever had dug the firepit left a spade and charcoal there.

Vandals were also digging on the site "to make it a bit more exciting for bikes", he said.

A ridge was created in the ground by people playing on bikes, English Heritage said

"It's kids, teenagers apparently, so we're told. It's not serious mountain bikers," he said.

Mr Scutt said it was great they were out getting exercise but the protected site was the "wrong place to do it".

Scheduled monuments are sites protected by law for their archaeological and historical value.

Describing the damage as "grim", the curator said they have broken through gates and left litter including cans and bottles.

"Often kids just need a quiet word if that's who it is and kids do generally respect the past if they know about it," he said.

"But sometimes they just look at a hillfort like this and think 'well that's just a whole load of lumps really and that's great for riding my bike' - but actually it's a really important site."

Curator Win Scutt said the damage "breaks your heart"