Up to 80 beer cans were among rubbish left by vandals who went on the rampage at a beauty spot near Saltash.

An information board was set alight, ripped off its plinth and smashed, a braille sign lifted out of the ground and thrown against a hedge, and refuse strewn across fields at Churchtown Farm Nature Reserve last Saturday night.

‘We’ve never had anything like this before – we’ve had a bit of vandalism but not to this degree,’ said Councillor Bob Austin, who chairs the Friends of Churchtown Farm.

‘One of the wardens and myself went there on Sunday morning and spent the whole morning clearing up. We counted at least 60-80 beer cans.

‘It’s disheartening. It’s such a beautiful reserve. The Friends have been working there, keeping it neat and tidy, and then these people have just gone in there and wrecked the place.’

Cllr Austin said it would be impractical to close the reserve at night – and that such a move would spoil the enjoyment for the many dog walkers who use the farm early in the morning.

‘I don’t want to stop people going in there – but just leave the reserve as you found it,’ he said.

PCSO Kirsty Down of the Saltash Policing Team said: ‘We are disappointed to report, between 9pm on Saturday March 19 and 7am on Sunday 20, a heritage sign at Churchtown Farm has been set alight and damaged.

‘We have been made aware of a group of people heard in the area between 1am and 3am. We urge anyone who may be able to  offer any information about those responsible for this damage to come forward. Please contact Saltash Neighbourhood Team by calling 101 or by email via the Devon and Cornwall Police website.’