Second World War veteran Michael Elcombe has had his greenhouse glass smashed by large stones.

Mr Elcombe, who lives just off High Street in Codford, found out what happened when he was told by the site manager of the nearby sewage treatment plant.

The 92-year-old – a retired lieutenant colonel who served with the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in Italy, France and Germany – said the greenhouse had been fine when his daughter, Mary, left it at 6.30pm last Thursday.

Mr Elcombe said he was grateful to sewage works staff for clearing the glass from the 13 broken panes.

He said: “I assume it was just kids messing around. It’s the first time that I have experienced any trouble in the 40 years I have lived here.”

Inspector Alan Webb said: “I would hope that if the person responsible knew the owner and the consequences of their actions that they would not have acted in such a cold, unthinking way.”