AN INVESTIGATION is underway to identify a vandal who damaged the Grosvenor Park willow statues on Saturday, May 25.

Witnesses to the damage described a young male who was seen pulling at the sculpture, which commemorates the 200-year anniversary of the RNLI, and encouraging other young people to help him tip it over.

He was then seen climbing on the display and surrounding flower beds.

The Grosvenor Park sculptures attract many visitors as they celebrate an annual theme. This year’s theme created by local artist Sarah Gallagher-Heyes (Twigtwisters), was chosen due to the RNLI’s charitable links to the River Dee next to the park. The damaged sculpture was of a rescue boat crashing through the waves, on one of its lifesaving missions.

Summer bedding plants are currently being grown in the nursery, to be planted in late June. Blue and white flowers will mimic the colours of crashing waves, while oranges and yellows depict the bright colours of the RNLI lifeboats. The RNLI are visiting Grosvenor Park in July for an open day where they will share information on the celebrations and history of the charity.

Cheshire Police and Cheshire West and Chester Council are looking to identify the person responsible for the damage and Cheshire Police have deployed mobile CCTV in the park to monitor for any further criminal damage or anti-social behaviour. The Council are exploring funding opportunities to repair the sculptures.

The person responsible is described as a young male, approximately 15-16 years of age, wearing a blue sports t shirt and black sports trousers, with a black tracksuit top around his waist, with black slicked back hair.

If you witnessed the damage, or believe you know the person responsible, please contact Cheshire Police by phoning 101 referencing occurrence number 24000485075.