VANDALS who dug up chunks of a York bowling green were today condemned as "mindless morons" by an angry city councillor.

The damage was done at West Bank Park, in Holgate, on Friday night after the park had closed and Holgate councillor Liz Edge is now appealing for residents to help catch the culprits.

"Would the mindless morons who decided that the way to finish their night out was to dig up chunks of the much-loved bowling green, please explain to me and the other residents who use this beautiful park, just what satisfaction they got from this totally selfish act of vandalism?" she said.

Coun Edge said the park and its bowling green attracted local residents and visitors from across the city because of the quality of its facilities.

She said the members of the club, many of them elderly, maintained the green to a "first-class standard".

"Holgate residents themselves, both on an individual basis and through the ward committee, regularly spend thousands of pounds improving existing facilities and providing new ones, like benches in the picnic areas, selected walking areas, additional play facilities and regular open days," she said.

"The reward for all this hard work and financial input, an invasion by 'idiots united'."

She said the vandalism could not be blamed on a lack of youth facilities, as there were many facilities at the park which were provided by City of York Council for people of all ages.

"I appeal to anyone who may be aware of who took part in this mindless vandalism that it is your council tax that is being spent on providing these facilities and it is your friends, neighbours or fellow residents who are putting in many hours of time and effort to provide and improve these excellent facilities for the benefit of you and your family and friends."

A spokeswoman for York Police said that the vandalism had been reported on Saturday morning and police were appealing for any information about the culprits.

Witnesses should telephone 01904 631321.

Updated: 15:03 Monday, May 20, 2002