Vandals wreck Whiston' Christmas display

VILLAGERS have vowed not to lose their festive spirit, despite Yuletide yobs trashing their seasonal decorations yet again.

Whiston's traditional crib, which depicted a nativity scene with 2ft figures, was overturned and damaged on New Year's Eve in the latest of a series of attacks on the village's Christmas displays.

But parish council chairman George Skinner vowed not to let the thugs win, insisting: "If we give in to them they have beaten us. They will not beat us. The display brings a lot of happiness and joy to people, it's just a few mindless vandals that object to it.

"I thought that we had got away with it this time but then on New Year's Eve this has happened.

"I would ask anyone who knows who did this to contact the police."

To the horror of villagers, vandalism of Whiston's Christmas decorations has become a regular event in recent years.

At Christmas 2008, lights worth £700 were ripped off the Christmas tree on High Street and hurled into the brook. Previous years have seen the Virgin Mary from the nativity dumped in the water.

The latest incident left the crib badly damaged and it has now been dismantled and put into storage.

Disgusted parish council clerk Sue Lewis said: "The same people also tried to pull down the Christmas lights, which had been purchased new this Christmas.

"These lights were bought by the parish council for the benefit of all its parishioners out of money from the precept paid by the parishioners of Whiston. 

"Is it any wonder organisations become reluctant to provide such facilities when a small few are intent on malicious destruction?"

Ms Lewis appealed for anyone with information about the vandalism to contact South Yorkshire Police on 0114 220 2020, quoting crime number C1752010, adding: "Don't let a few inconsiderate people spoil things for the whole village."