VANDALS have tipped over a memorial to men who lost their lives in a town's mines.

Five mining carts, sited in Ferryhill as a reminder of the mines' importance to the community, were provided by the town council early last year.

Two have been inscribed with the names of more than 150 men who died at the former Mainsforth Colliery and Dean and Chapter Colliery.

The memorials had escaped vandalism up to now.

But, some time during the festive period, one of the carts, at Mainsforth Bank, was attacked and overturned.

Jamie Corrigan, executive officer of Ferryhill Town Council, said yesterday: "It was welded to the tracks and they are very weighty, so it must have taken quite a few people to do it.

"We put flowers in them all and there are some spring plants in there so they will be destroyed."

But he insisted the cart would be reinstated.

"We are going to put it back in position and secure all of them down even more so we can prevent it happening again," said Mr Corrigan.

The council's deputy leader, Councillor Joe Chaplin, said: "It is a mindless act when you think about it.

"You try to tidy a place up and give it a bit of character and people can't leave it alone."