Archive - Thursday, 13 June 2002


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Vandals trash pub's floral display

A RYEDALE pub owner has branded vandals who uprooted his floral display as "cowards".

John Rushworth, who owns the Derwent Arms pub, Norton, said he had spent £2,500 decorating the exterior of his pub.

But on Tuesday morning his son Darren Rushworth, who manages the pub, awoke to find most of the display thrown on the ground.

"I was absolutely disgusted when I saw it, it was a complete mess," he said.

"Darren shut the pub up on Monday night at 11.45pm and the flowers were still in place.

"When he got up early in the morning they were strewn all over the place.

"They have pulled up loads of flowers at the front of the pub and at the back on the car park.

"The people who have done this are complete cowards because they have done it in the dead of night when there was no one around.

"It's sickening because we're trying to make an effort to spruce up the pub and people have commented on how nice is looks."

The damage is estimated to run into hundreds of pounds but it's not the first time the pub has been targeted by vandals.

"We have had two English flags nicked from holders outside the pub and last week someone trampled all the flowers flat in one of the beds.

"All that happened after the England game. It is inexcusable, but there were drunken lads around during the day so you almost expect some rowdy behaviour.

"But none of that compares with they way all these flowers have been pulled out."

Darren said he was angry at the culprits and urged witnesses to come forward.

"Besides uprooting the flowers they've pulled away a cable attached to the side of the building," he said.

"They must have been doing it for some time because of the extent of the mess they have made, so someone may have seen something."

A gardener has been employed to replant and replace the damaged flowers.

A spokesman from Malton police said they were looking into the incident.

"This sort of behaviour is not acceptable and we would appeal for witnesses to come forward," said the spokesman.

Updated: 08:59 Thursday, June 13, 2002