VANDALS have wrecked a £1,000 slate plinth which welcomes visitors to Stokesley.

The plinth, one of six placed around the town by Stokesley Pride In Our Town Association (Spiota), was damaged last week.

Eric Lee, treasurer of Spiota, said: “This has been mindless vandalism and it’s a nuisance.

“We don’t think it was a car, but it does seem like there could have been a group pushing at it to see if they could get it over.”

The entire project cost Spiota £8,000 and the plinths, which feature metal name plates, were only put in place last autumn.

The sign is just off the A172 Thirsk Road at the Pack Horse Bridge entrance to Stokesley, and it was damaged overnight on Wednesday of last week.

Originally, Spiota received funding aid from Hambleton District Council and Stokesley Parish Council, and other funders, to boost its own money.

The group is looking to either replace or repair the sign as it claims the damage was an isolated incident.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Police are investigating the damage caused to the sign during what can only be described as a mindless act of vandalism which has caused upset to the local community.”

Anyone who has information, or witnessed the sign being damaged, should call Stokesley police on 0845-6060-247.