VANDALS used some of the thousand-plus rocks in an Abbey Meads community art project to damage equipment in a nearby play park.

The rock snake made up of more than 1,000 stones created by families living in the area during lockdown has been dismantled. Witnesses saw the rocks being thrown into the Heaton Close play area and reported it to Haydon Wick Parish Council.

The remaining rocks have been collected by the parish council for safekeeping and the matter has been reported to police.

A council spokesman said they were "very disappointed" by the vandalism as steps were being taken to find a way of making the rock snake a permanent installation.