‘MINDLESS morons’ have again wrecked festive displays across Hyndburn, councillors said.

Christmas trees in both Oswaldtwistle and Rishton have been damaged — less than 12 months after they were both last targeted.

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The planted fir tree outside Rishton Library, in High Street, now has a ‘sizeable gap in its foliage’ after vandals struck over the weekend.

Angry town councillor Ken Moss said everything would be done to catch the culprits.

He said: “We’ve had reports of who has done this and will be checking the CCTV footage.

“Branches and foliage have been found all over the grassed area at the clinic and the tree is now no longer acceptable as a permanent decoration.

“We have a week to replace it before the switch-on and have to find the money from somewhere.”

The tree had several branches snapped off, while others were bent and broken after what Coun Moss described as ‘brainless vandalism’ in July.

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Two six-foot-tall Christmas trees were planted last November in a bid to cut the cost of Christmas, although they were branded ‘laughable’ by some residents due to their small size.

Lighting cables at the other tree, in Parker Street, were ripped out of an electrical junction box just hours after they were switched on.

Earlier this month, the council announced a third tree was to be planted at the Turrets garden in the town.

The large tree at Jubilee Gardens in Oswaldtwistle was also damaged, while a third of the new festive lights were stolen, also at some point over the weekend.

The vandalism left contractors scrambling to get the lights working ahead of last night’s switch on, which was organised by the Civic Arts Centre in Union Road.

Town councillor Peter Britcliffe said the attack was ‘absolutely disgraceful’.

He added: “These people are mindless morons who just want to spoil the fun for everybody else. It happens every year.

“Fortunately, the council has been working on it and it should be all right for the switch-on.

“These lights cost thousands of pounds. They’re not £10 from Wilkinsons’. Hopefully Hyndburn Council will dig into some of it’s huge reserves to fund a replacement.”

Last year, yobs spray-painted and flipped over a Nativity scene in the same spot.

The word ‘Gav’ was sprayed in red across the front of the wooden manger before it was overturned, scattering the ornamental figurines inside it.

A CCTV camera across the road from the site failed to catch the culprit, Coun Britcliffe added.

“Every year I ask them to keep an eye on it with the camera when the display goes in, so where is it when we need it?”