Police probe 'mindless vandalism' at beach steps

Villagers have been left furious after discovering that essential wooden railings along steep steps to a beach have been ripped away and used as firewood.

The route, known as Cardiac Hill in Mundesley, Norfolk, has been closed off following the incident due to concerns it has become unsafe.

Police are investigating and forensic officers have taken samples from empty cans of beer left at the scene, in an attempt to retrieve DNA from the culprits.

Members of a charity that helped raise money to build and maintain the steps have called it "mindless vandalism" and said they were now facing the prospect of having to raise significant funds to repair them.

Bev Reynolds, 79, and Jane Barnes, 61, live nearby and were among the first to discover the damage, which they believe was carried out after 21:00 BST on Wednesday.

They are trustees of the Mundesley Action 4 Cardiac Hill and Coastal Gun Battery, a charity set up more than a decade ago to raise money to fund building and maintaining the steps down to the beach.

The route is popular with dog walkers, as it leads to one of the few stretches of beach where they can walk their pets all year round without summer restrictions.

Barnes said: "The devastation and wanton, deliberate vandalism is absolutely heartbreaking to see.

"They pulled them off, broke them up and have used them to create a fire to sit around and drink beer and whatever else they do.

"These are the only steps you can use to reach the western beaches of Mundesley so they are used constantly throughout the year, more so in the summer."

Reynolds added: "We've had a couple of minor incidents in the past but nothing on this scale."

Norfolk Police were called at 09:46 on Wednesday 17 June.

A spokeswoman said: "Officers attended the scene and enquiries are ongoing."

Reynolds said the people responsible "have ruined a community asset that has taken so many years to put together, keep together, maintain.

"All that has been taken away."

Following the incident, a fundraiser has been set up to raise funds to replace the handrails and repair the steps, which at the time of writing had already raised more than £1,000.

Steffan Aquarone, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, said he was "utterly appalled" to see the damage and called for people to help fund the repairs.

"These steps are a vital asset," he said, adding: "A small local charity should not be left carrying the cost of repairing damage caused by mindless vandalism and I have been inspired by the offers of help that have flooded in."

He urged anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have any information to contact the police.

"Mundesley deserves better than this," he added.

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