Locals of a Longford village are being urged not to let recent incidents of vandalism destroy their community spirit.
Two juvenile crab apple trees planted by the Ardagh Tidy towns group were severely damaged in the last number of days with trunks snapped and branches cut.
Following a campaign by locals last year, the Ardagh Neighbourhood Park, in which the vandalism occured, was added to the list of Important Stands of Trees included in the Longford County Development plan.
It is not the first instance of vandalism in the village this year, as a large sign at the entrance to the Ardagh Neighbourhood Park being forcibly removed and dumped earlier in the year.
Local community representative Francesca Pawelczyk is urging locals not to let the incidents damage community spirit.
Speaking to Shannonside FM news, she said she wants the perpetrators to think about why they acted and to understand the effect it has on a community:
