Sefton Council is issuing a warning to vandals following the severe damage of five trees in the Crosby Road South area.

Officers discovered the trees, some of which had been recently planted, had been damaged beyond repair and will now need to be removed.

The senseless act of vandalism is unfortunately not an isolated incident. One of the trees was a replacement for a previously snapped tree in the very same location.

All incidents of vandalism have been reported to Merseyside Police and the Council is working closely to support their investigation by providing CCTV footage.

Cllr Mhairi Doyle, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, said: “Vandalism is not a victimless crime. Behaviour like this is not only disheartening for our local community, but it’s also a complete waste of Council resource and money on something which is so easily avoided.

“As always we will continue to work closely with the police and other partners to discourage further acts of vandalism and if anybody has any specific information about this incident, please contact Merseyside Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”