Cornish apple trees planted as part of a community project have been attacked, uprooted and stolen by vandals.

Three years ago, National Lottery funding of around £500,000 was used to erect the towering Celtic Cross and to open up the adjoining Elwell Woods as an amenity for people in Saltash.

Twelve varieties of Cornish apple tree were planted in a community orchard.

While there has always been a small amount of vandalism in the woods, the problem has got worse since December, said Councillor Joe Ellison.

‘Over time we’ve lost two of the apple trees to vandalism, but since Christmas another one has been totally smashed down, one has been badly damaged and two have been totally uprooted and taken away. There’s nothing left but a hole in the ground,’ he said.

‘It’s disgraceful. I can’t understand the mentality of the people that do it.’

Each tree lost has cost the town council around £50 to replace, said Cllr Ellison – and the council has only been able to replace the traditional Cornish trees with ‘ordinary’ varieties.

‘The woodland is in a fairly open area connected to the Waterside and, generally, it’s been respected,’ said Cllr Ellison.