Beans and soup poured into Skegness book bank by 'mindless' vandal

Tracey Gartshore said the contents of at least two tins were thrown into the book bank

A community has rallied round after a "mindless" vandal ruined a book bank by filling it with baked beans and soup.

Tracey Gartshore, 44, set up the mini library in a wooden box on Drummond Road in Skegness five years ago in a bid to boost literacy in the town.

However, after Saturday's incident all the donated books had to be binned.

Ms Gartshore said the books had been "covered with beans and soup, but I've had donations galore again, so they really didn't achieve anything".

Ms Gartshore said by Saturday evening the book store had undergone "a facelift and was up and running again"

Ms Gartshore, who believes the vandalism was a deliberate act, said she set up the book bank because of her job as a local primary school teacher.

"In education terms Skegness is considered deprived," she said.

"So I thought if we can get adults reading it might encourage children to do the same.

"My partner built the book bank and it's free, so for the people who take the books it helps that there's no cost."

'Real mess'

Speaking about discovering the mini-library filled with beans and soup, she said: "It was a real mess, it was horrible."

However, she said just a few hours later it was as good as new thanks to the generosity of local people.

"The donations came rolling in, the local community just stepped up," she said.

"By Saturday evening it was cleaned out again and quickly refilled."

Ms Gartshore said: "I'm very cross, but it was soon back up, cleaned out, running, and people were using it again, so it really was quite a mindless act."