Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been caused after a vandal attack at a Black Country beauty spot.

Vandals struck Walsall Arboretum after the park gates had been locked.

They destroyed eight valuable Chinese red birch trees, at the Lichfield Street attraction, causing around £8,000 worth of damage. The unusual trees are unlikely to be replaced.

Principal arboriculturalist Ian McDermott, said: “They are the only ones in the borough.

“They are very expensive, but these came to us as a donation from the Friends of the arboretum as they appeared in the Gardener’s World competition last year.

“We estimate around £8,000 worth of damage has been caused.

“We think they got in after the park was closed, it looks like they have got in and snapped them off, pulled them over and ran round and round until they have been broken off completely.

“This is quite deliberate and they must have spent a long, long time doing it.”

It is now unlikely the same trees will be replaced as the Arboretum does not have the money to replace them.

The damage happened sometime between 9.30pm on Friday and 10.30am on Saturday

Walsall’s leisure and culture boss, Councillor Anthony Harris, said: “It’s an absolute disgrace that a wonderful gift has been destroyed like this.”