A SPATE of vandalism and bad behaviour has failed to break community spirit in Heysham.

Armed with a war chest of £13,500, residents pledge they will create an explosion of colour in the village this summer - despite a growing number of problem youths.

Youngsters have caused damage to shops and homes with air weapons, snapped young trees and utilised gardens and woods as a 'drinking den'.

But organisers of the village's Britain in Bloom entry say they will not let the wreckers win.

They have won the £13,500 windfall for this year's competition after their flowery efforts secured a silver medal last year.

Now they are calling for a public meeting with police to try and tackle the issues of bad behaviour before the project gets into full swing.

"If nothing is done, the money could be wasted and that would be very sad," says spokesperson Angela Sykes.

"But we will not give in to them because if we do nothing it will be like living in Beirut."

Angela and her colleague Isobel Hutchinson applied for the grant more than 12 months ago after struggling to get funds together for last year's entry. She says they were 'shocked' at the amount they received.

"We have never had this much money given to Heysham - it is absolutely amazing," Angela says. "When we applied we thought we might get about £1,000 and so we are over the moon."

The bulk of the money will be pumped into restoring the village's Glebe garden, but cash will also be dished out to pay for hanging baskets and other floral projects.

o Saplings planted in Heysham by parents in memory of their dead children which were snapped by youths last year are to be replaced and will be planted next Wednesday, May 5.