CALLS have been made for CCTV to be installed at Rhyl’s Remembrance Gardens after the site was again the target of acts of vandalism.

Richard Kendrick, Rhyl's Poppy Appeal organiser for the Royal British Legion, said that, in recent weeks, flowers, wreaths, and stones at war memorials have disappeared or been ruined, while lilies from the pond have been pulled out.

Last year at the gardens, two headstones and plaques were covered in a swastika, Iron Cross and statements related to the Nazi Party.

Richard said: “I got a phone call last night (July 25) that there had been more damage, that someone had smashed up one of the Falklands poppy wreaths. I don’t know why.

“We’ve had lilies from the pond pulled out, flowers stolen, and some of the stones, which must weigh 100 pounds, removed. It took two of us to put them back.

“That’s just in the past few weeks. We had the graffiti last year, we’ve had the wall being kicked in. it seems to be an ongoing thing.

“It’s a beautiful place to go, and it’s all about remembering our fallen. If it’s children (causing the damage), some of them won’t realise they could be related to these people.

“The flowers were taken out on Thursday or Friday. I go out there every couple of days to clear the rubbish out and make sure it’s all tidy.”

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When asked if he had contacted the police, he said: “No, because there’s nothing they can do. That’s why I want to put CCTV in there, to cover the gates as people walk in.

“It seems to be happening quite often now. I don’t understand it. I’ve been trying to get hold of Denbighshire County Council and Rhyl Town Council to meet me and have a chat about it.”

A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: “We have been made aware of the damage to the gardens.

"Our maintenance teams regularly visit the gardens to carry out work in support of the Town Council and we would encourage anyone to report incidents of anti-social behaviour at the site to North Wales Police.”

James Davies, MP for Vale of Clwyd, said: "This damage is appalling and cannot be allowed to continue.

"I am liaising with both the police and the county council over options to tackle such behaviour."

Both councillors for Rhyl East, the ward in which the gardens are situated, also condemned the acts of vandalism.

Cllr Barry Mellor said: "This is terrible news.

"I just wish these people would just stop and think what heartache this gives to the parents of those brave men and women who have fallen to enable us all to live better lives.

"Richard Kendrick does a lovely job in collecting money for all the organisations, but he has to realise that the remembrance gardens are in the ownership of Rhyl Town Council.

"He says he has not contacted the police as there is nothing they can do; they certainly can't do anything if they know nothing about it.

"As for CCTV, DCC have just put a new camera up just outside the gardens. I will see if we can get it pointed to rake in the gardens."

Cllr Justine Evans added: "I was saddened to receive reports of vandalism at the memorial gardens in Rhyl earlier this week. 

"I have been told that flowers have been pulled out and stones moved. 

"It is not the first time the gardens have been targeted in this way. 

"I have reported the latest incident to both DCC and Rhyl Town Council and called for cameras to be installed to deter those responsible for such appalling acts of vandalism. 

"I have also raised the matter with Dr James Davies MP, who will be taking it up with the police.

"The gardens mean so much to so many; we simply can not allow for incidents like this to continue."