Yobs ripped up posts, tore down signs and threw a bin into a lake during a spree of vandalism.

A life belt on a post was pulled out of the ground and thrown on the floor at the pond in Mallards Way in Downswood and a waste bin was left in the lake, which is home to swans.

Signs were destroyed and fencing around the children’s play area damaged.

But when the damage was discovered, Maidstone borough councillor Gordon Newton (Ind) reported it – and it was cleared up on the next working day.

The council also picked up the bill for the repairs and clean-up operation, which ran to more than £1,000.

Cllr Newton said: “We wanted to try and get it back as it was as quickly as possible. It cost the borough money because of an act of mindless vandalism.

“It was rectified very quickly and the parks and open spaces team have got to be commended, they did a superb job.

“Getting the bin out of the lake was particularly difficult, as it was very heavy. We don’t want to be dealing with this sort of thing and we hope an increased police presence will be able to stop it.”

Cllr Newton said there had also been damage done to the windows of the Spires Medical Centre in Chiltern Close in a separate attack.

The vandalism occurred at some point on Friday, August 23.