MINDLESS vandals have deliberately torched an area of a popular community garden in Greenock.

Yobs destroyed a new raised bed at the Belville Community Garden which has been built for local residents to use as a vegetable plot.

Bryan Watson, who is a volunteer at the community garden based just off Belville Street, said it is disheartening as the team are working so hard to improve the local area.

The 27-year-old, from Gourock, said: "It's a bit of a nightmare because we're working hard and people are messing it up.

"These raised beds are a joint project between Belville and River Clyde Homes and are for the community to use so they can plant vegetables.

"We are trying to do stuff for the local community and this is holding us back a bit."

Bryan says there is an ongoing problem with vandalism at the site.

He added: "This is the first time a raised bed has been burned but a couple of weeks ago there was stuff smashed up, including pallets and slates.

"We keep gravel in food bins and they were smashed up too.

"There's gorse round the garden which is also being burned so I'm cutting it back.

"It's an ongoing problem."

Bryan hopes the vandals will leave the project - which has been a big success - alone.

He said: "When the project first started, I don't think we had any problems.

"When more stuff is appearing here they seem to want to go and smash it up."

The gardens are overlooked by flats on Belville Street and Bryan has appealed for residents to contact the police and fire service if they notice any unusual activity.

Anyone with information about the latest attack is asked to phone the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.