GARDEN sheds have been damaged and glass panes deliberately broken in yet another smashing spree at allotments in London Colney.

A fed-up St Albans pensioner has criticised those who have vandalised allotments off Richardson Close for the second time in a month.

The man, who does not wish to be named, said he has been gardening at the site for several years and is concerned about increased vandalism.

The London Colney parish council-owned allotments off Richardson Close were attacked overnight on October 26, when at least six sheds were tipped over and many damaged beyond repair. Glass vegetable enclosures were also damaged and water butts thrown and used to damage other garden structures.

Then on Sunday, November 27, there was further vandalism, with crops destroyed, and glass cloches protecting seedlings smashed.

The pensioner said: “It’s a shame people have nothing better to do. When is it going to stop?

“I’m concerned because there have also been people drinking on the site. In the earlier incident there were empty cans and bottles strewn around the place. They put holes in the water butts so you can’t use them.”

He said the vandalism had nearly broken the heart of one elderly gardener who had recently lost his wife, and whose shed was severely damaged in the October incident.

The pensioner explained that vandalism at the site had begun about three years “in a minor way” with crops being ruined. However the number of incidents has increased, as has the amount of damage.

The pensioner, a lifelong gardener, said he was saddened by the effect on his hobby as, “It’s what I like doing. It’s all down to food; I use it to grow fruit and vegetables.”

The allotments have a public walkway through them that people use to access nearby playing fields.

A spokeswoman for the Herts Police said officers had attended an incident at the allotments, following damage to glass sheeting and sheds at about 8pm on November 27. A 14-year-old was arrested but later released without charge.

Anyone with information on the incidents can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.