A SPATE of summer vandalism in Tavistock including graffiti attacks and damage to street furniture has cost ratepayers in the town more than £525, it was revealed on Tuesday.

Members at the town council's properties committee were told of a list of attacks on furniture and buildings in the town during August.

It included:

l A picnic table smashed beyond repair

l A seat smashed beyond repair

l A further seat repaired

l A seat in remembrance of a resident ripped from its fixings

l A seat outside the Old Folks' Rest Room needed new arm rests, five new bearers and two new bottom rails after an attack

l Chainlink fencing at Bannawell Street playpark was damaged.

Town clerk Roger Howard said the constant attacks of vandalism not only cost in terms of replacing items but also in labour, particularly if it occurred in a playpark.

Col Howard said: 'If it happens there we have to repair it there and then and if it's on a Sunday, it's even more expensive.

'Vandalism does get worse during the summer periods, but it's going on all year long.

'I've got a great long list of projects I want done and if the boys have to go off wiping off graffiti and repairing things, they don't get done — we are running to stand still.'

Works superintendent Les Bennett said that on average there is at least one incident of vandalism every week which needs attention by his department.

'When you are getting this sort of thing all the time you haven't got a cat in hell's chance of getting things done. There's enough work to do without these extras, it's costing an arm and a leg.'

Cllr Peter Donkin, chairman of the committee, said: 'It's very unsatisfactory. It's probably peaking because of the school holidays, but frankly I feel in Tavistock there isn't any excuse for it and it's costing everyone a certain amount of money through their rates.'

Cllr Donkin said as police resources appeared too stretched to cover the whole town, perhaps a different approach might work.

'One idea is that if the community is more involved in their parks, they might be prepared to take more care with them. It might be difficult in the Meadows, but in places like Bannawell Street and Courtlands, it might work.'

The committee agreed to report the increase in vandalism to the next West Devon community safety partnership meeting.

A West Devon police spokesman said: 'We do work in close partnership with the council and if there is a particular problem in a certain area we will target that area.'