I AM writing regarding a major act of vandalism which took place two weeks ago at Cliffe Castle Park in Keighley.

I’ve lived near Cliffe Castle since I came to Keighley way back in 1954.

My two boys from their childhood always wanted to play in Cliffe Castle Park and enjoyed their outings in Keighley open-air space.

Also, I have a good collection of slides of Cliffe Castle and its surrounding land.

I’ve got some wonderful photographs of Princess Anne when she came to the castle in 1977 in celebration of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee.

I was very lucky to present an exhibition, Landscape Photographs of England and Scotland, at Cliffe Castle Museum in 1995 when over 8,000 people attended.

I visit the Cliffe Castle grounds quite often and I was very impressed with – and pleased to see – a major revamping scheme, carried out by Bradford Council with the help of the National Lottery Fund.

In my opinion the scheme was very tastefully done and the money spent extremely wisely, with some good-quality materials and designs. One has to give credit to the project at the fountain area in particular, with a good-sized pond, plants and nice statues, and ornamental plant pots.

When I visited the park on Sunday to see the Two Rivers swing band playing at the bandstand, it was with shock and horror that I saw a few statues and plant pots that had been maliciously damaged by somebody.

According to one of the park assistants, the incident has been reported to the police and they are looking into the matter.

What upset me more than anything was that after all the work carried out and seeing the park in its former glory, somebody could just come along and destroy the good things that were done for people to enjoy and Keighley to be proud of.

I do feel sad that we have one or two people in our society who seem to hate the good things and want to destroy them, and I do wonder why it is so.

The person responsible for damaging the various lovely things in the park should be caught and brought to justice.

I sincerely hope that person will have to pay the full amount of money for replacing the damaged items and that the press names and shames them.

CHARLIE BHOWMICK Keighley