VANDALS are putting lives at risk by destroying life-saving equipment at a popular lake near Cirencester, says the trust that manages the site.

Over the course of the summer tens of thousands of pounds worth of wilful damage has been found by horrified members of the charity that looks after Cleveland Lakes Nature Reserve and Neigh Bridge Country Park.

Bird hides have had to be demolished after vandals caused irreparable damage

But, most worryingly, last weekend all the rescue throw lines and lifebuoys at Cleveland Lakes, near South Cerney, were vandalised or stolen, and important safety signs ripped down or destroyed.

“It is criminal damage. The money we have to find for the repairs has been donated to the charity,” said Ben Welbourn, biodiversity and estates manager for Cotswold Water Park Trust. “But more importantly the recent vandalism involved equipment that could save someone’s life.

“God forbid that someone got into trouble and that vital rescue equipment wasn’t there.

“Someone might die.”

Crucial life-saving equipment has been stolen or damaged

And another site managed by the trust – Neigh Bridge Country Park, suffered similar problems throughout the warm summer, with life saving equipment and signage having to be replaced regularly.

Additionally play equipment funded through charitable grants was vandalised and

The Cotswold Water Park Trust manages a number of sites for public members of the public to enjoy, including the popular Cleveland Lakes Nature Reserve, near Ashton Keynes.

As an important wildlife site there is no permitted access into the water for swimming or fishing but the charity’s obligation to public safety means that emergency rescue equipment is provided should anyone get into trouble at the popular beauty spot.

The organisation that looks after the beauty spots say that huge amounts of money has been wasted dealing with the damage

“It is therefore disappointing and potentially very dangerous when such equipment is misused, vandalised or stolen,” Ben told the paper. “Lifebuoys and rescue throw lines can save lives, but only if they’re in good working order and certainly not if they’re missing.”

Sadly, as the rangers who are employed by the conservation charity are spending more time dealing with anti-social incidents in the beauty spots they are left with less time to

“We’d like to be spending our time and charitable funds fulfilling our core remit to improve the area for wildlife and people, but sadly incidents like this are becoming increasingly common and cannot be ignored, so we’ll need to divert our rangers’ resources accordingly.

“The Cotswold Water Park really is a unique and special area, but we all need to play a part in looking after it,” biodiversity and estates manager Ben said.

Worryingly signs warning of the dangers of the lake have been defaced

A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said: “We are investigating a report of theft and criminal damage at Cleveland Lakes, in Ashton Keynes.

“It is believed to have happened between 3pm on October 11 and 9am on October 14, and a number of emergency rescue lines and signage were either stolen or damaged.

“We are investigating and would urge anyone with information to call Wiltshire Police on 101, quoting crime reference number 54180097475.