Volunteers have been dealt a devastating blow after a driver ripped through part of a historic garden in Bolton.
Rivington Terraced Gardens had been left for decades with no management, but team of people has been working and raising money to restore the area.
When the volunteers arrived at the gardens, in the north of Bolton, on Friday, February 12, they found that someone had broken through the gates and driven a vehicle across part of the lawns.
Richard Galloway, a director of Rivington Heritage Trust, said the damaged was 'heartbreaking' after his group had worked hard to regenerate the area.
He said: "It's not the first time this has happened. A very small number of people are causing a great amount of detriment to the gardens.
"It's not just the high costs to repair the damage and the time it'll take to re-grow the grass, it's heartbreaking that all our volunteers and fundraisers are working so hard during lockdown at a time when it's been difficult to raise the necessary maintenance funds.
"At the end of the day it's pure vandalism and just makes our lives more difficult as we want the Gardens open to the public, especially at this time."
During the pandemic, the heritage trust has been left with a £100,000 hole in its finances and is having to rely on more donations from the public to help.
They have also turned to famous faces for help in promoting the cause.
Bolton-born celebrities including comedian Dave Spikey and radio broadcaster Mark Radcliffe are among the names who have pledged their support to the Squarea initiative.
The project is raising funds to maintain the garden by allowing members of the public to sponsor a 10sqm patch of land anywhere on the massive 200,000sqm site.
To get involved in the Squarea campaign, visit: www.rivingtonterracedgardens.org.uk/get-involved/squarea/.
