A RETIRED gardener has vowed to quit his York allotment after vandals attacked the site for the fifth time in as many months.

The 65-year-old man said he was "heartbroken" when he discovered the trail of devastation left at the Hempland Lane allotments, in Heworth.

A group of vandals ransacked a number of individual allotment plots at the large site near Hempland Primary School.

It is the second time gangs of vandals have struck buildings and land in the area in as many weeks.

Greenhouse windows were smashed, sheds damaged, tools and equipment broken and plants ripped out of the ground during the attack.

The keen gardener, who has had an allotment for nearly seven years, said his plot had vegetables ripped up, tools thrown around and specialist plant frames smashed.

He no longer plans to use the facility when this growing season has finished.

"We have had nothing else but trouble this year with sheds being broken into and items being stolen," he said.

"But this is the first time that vandals have wantonly pulled plants up and left a right mess.

"An elderly gentleman was virtually in tears when he saw what had happened - this has finished me off."

The incident is believed to have occurred between late Sunday afternoon and early Monday morning.

Only two weeks ago the Evening Press reported that a number of young people had attacked Heworth Community Centre, in nearby Applecroft Road, smashing windows and throwing bottles.

Residents called police for help only to be told by North Yorkshire Police control that there were insufficient resources to cover the incident.

A senior York police officer, Chief Superintendent John Lacy, blamed the lack of response on underfunding and urged members of the public to tell the county's Police Authority about the situation.

Anyone with any information about the incident is asked to telephone York police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 11:09 Tuesday, May 07, 2002