Lives put at risk by vandals targeting Ludlow riverside lifebuoys
Lives are being put at risk in Shropshire after riverside lifebuoys were stolen twice in a matter of days from the same spot.
The acts of "mindless vandalism" took place twice on a stretch of parkland on Temeside on the banks of the River Teme in Ludlow over the weekend.
Town clerk Gina Wilding said the situation was serious as the river had been swollen by rain and conditions were freezing cold.
She said: "There have been two incidents of mindless vandalism over the weekend.
"On Friday it was noticed that the lifebuoy had gone missing at Temeside. We immediately replaced it, but the officers do regular checks and over the weekend it had gone missing again.
"Luckily we had two in stock so we didn't have to order another one."
She said Ludlow Town Council was now out of spares, and had more on order.
"If it happened again, with the river running so high, if someone did come into difficulty it could be really serious," she said. "It's putting lives in danger.
"Whether they were just thrown in the river, or someone has taken them as a souvenir we don't know.
We've been brain-storming what someone could do with a life buoy. It's important to have them there."
Anyone who saw anybody tampering with the lifebuoys along the River Teme should contact the town council on (01584) 871970, or West Mercia Police on 101.
