VANDALS have removed a plaque commemorating the history of a large boulder in a Darlington park, just hours after it was glued in place.

A 12-ton granite boulder – known as the Manson boulder – has stood at the Victoria Embankment entrance of South Park for more than 100 years.

The Northern Echo:

VANDALISED: The wording on the plaque. Vandals removed it from the Manson Boulder, in Darlington's South Park, before it was removed by yobs

Members of Friends of South Park installed a replacement plaque on Friday, after the previous one was stolen several years ago.

However, the new plaque, which is made of resin, was removed within hours and thrown into the nearby River Skerne.

It was retrieved on Monday morning by regular park user Rae Hammond, who donned her wellies to collect the plaque and hand it to park rangers for safe-keeping.

Ms Hammond said the plaque was in reasonable condition despite spending more than a day submerged in the river.

It is hoped to re-attach the plaque in such a way that vandals will not be able to remove it again.

Ms Hammond said: "I have lived around this area for nine years and I just love South Park; I am so passionate about it, to the extent that I even go round picking up litter when I am walking my dog on a morning.

"I remember when the first plaque went missing and it has been a long time waiting for it to be replaced.

"Sure enough, it did not take long for the new plaque to be torn off.

"I am furious, but there is always someone that comes along and spoils it for everyone else."

The Northern Echo:

SUBMERGED: The plaque after it was thrown in the River Skerne in South Park.

A post about the saga on the Friends group's Facebook page has received many comments praising the volunteers' efforts and condemning the vandals.

Ms Hammond called for more twilight patrols in the park to discourage anti-social behaviour.

A spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council, which runs the park, said: "We are unable to offer regular patrols in the park, but our anti-social behaviour team will respond to any calls about activity in the park, or elsewhere in the town.

We are more than happy to meet with the Friends of South Park to discuss any concerns and if Ms Hammond gets in touch, we will help to put the plaque back up.”

The team covering South Park can be contacted by calling 01325-406753 during office hours or 07816-820-048 between 5pm and 10pm.

The boulder was pulled from the River Tees at Winston and is a monument to the literary and scientific works of 19th Century naturalist Dr Richard Taylor Manson.

Friends treasurer Marie Hirst is appealing for anyone with suggestions of how to permanently affix the plaque to the boulder to call her on 01325-363417.

For more information about the park, visit southparkdarlington.co.uk