A FAMILY say they are moving house after vandals attacked their much-loved garden fountain.

The £250 water feature in the family's front garden in Water Street, Radcliffe, depicting a rustic boy and girl, was smashed in a rampage by vandals more than a week ago.

One character's head had been removed as a trophy, and the broken sculpture was dumped outside a nearby hairdressing salon.

The pieces were returned to the garden the following morning by two passers-by who recognised them.

Householder Irene Thornton (51) says she and husband Frank now plan to move.

The mother-of-four said: "We just saw the gate open and the sculpture smashed up and lying in the path.

"We were only trying to improve our property and make the area look nice, but these animals don't understand that.

"The fountain was very popular. Mums with prams, people with dogs and the old folk loved to see it as they walked by.

In recent weeks, ornamental tortoises and snails have also been taken from the garden.

Mrs Thornton said: "It seems as though you are not allowed to improve your property without people wanting to destroy things.

"This was the final straw. Now we just want to move somewhere you can have the things that you want."