A MYSTERY axeman has struck in a Darwen park, seemingly trying to chop down trees.

Damage has been done to branches in Olive Lane park, with branches snapped off and huge chunks taken out.

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And Sudell councillor Roy Davies, who spotted the damage while on a regular litter pick, has urged people to help him find out who has been doing it.

He said: “I have been litter picking more as there are more children out because of the school holidays. In some places it looks like someone has been sawing branches off.

“And then I noticed someone has taken a great big axe to one of them and it looks like someone is trying to chop it down. I could not believe it. It looks like they have been doing a little bit every day.”

Coun Davies said he reported the incident to the police and the council. He said: “The council staff just shrugged their shoulders.

“Then I rang the police station and they said I should ring 101, who then told me I need to contact the local station again.

“I want people to tell us who has been chopping the trees.

“We have to get something done about it. A lot of work has been done to improve Olive Lane park and I am hurt, to be honest. I am down there every day and when I am just getting on top of it someone comes and does something like this.

“It just makes you think ‘what is the point?’”

A police spokeswoman said: “Minor damage has been done to the tree and the marks on it make it appear that it was hacked. We can’t say for sure what was used.

“If anybody saw anything suspicious in the area at the time they should call the police on 101 quoting reference EA1417733.”