MORECAMBE'S Happy Mount Park has become the victim of vandals who have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage in the popular tourist spot. Windows have been smashed, doors daubed over, the pond filled with broken glass and the fence pulled up in the park by what is thought to be teenage tearaways. Now, with the all-important summer season just around the corner, tourist chiefs in the resort are set to discuss the possibilities of putting security cameras in the once peaceful park.

The city council's Morecambe tourism service group was due to discuss the installation of cameras at a meeting today (Thursday).

Cllr Derrick Stanley, the chairman of that committee, believes the bill for repairing the damage could come to as much as £15,000.

He told the Citizen: "We believe these problems are being caused by kids of 12, 13 or 14 years old and we think many of them have been drinking. It's about time their parents got them under control.

"What surprises me is that nobody has reported this to the police before. People living near the place complain about noise when there are events in the park and I'm sure they must have heard these kids in the park.

"Now the money to pay for this is going to have to come out of the taxpayer's pocket."

Jim Trotman from Morecambe Tourism is calling for anyone who sees or hears the vandals to call the police immediately.

He added: "The advice we have had from the police is that the more calls they get from residents, the harder they will come down on the people doing this.

"Little bits of damage are being caused almost every night to the Japanese Gardens and they are obviously trying to get into the buildings left behind by Crinkley Bottom by kicking in doors and windows and getting on the roofs."

Patrols are being carried out in the park during the day and today's meeting will decide if more security measures are needed after dark.

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