Vandals have blown up a post box, destroying mail in South Ashford.

Fireworks had been dropped into the letter box and the explosion blew off the door setting fire to the post inside the box at the Jemmett Road junction with Rising Road.

Cllr Brendan Naughton was among the first on the scene, as he cycled home at about 4.30pm on Saturday.

He said: “Local residents came out with kettles of water to put the fire out but some of the mail was destroyed.

“It was a total act of social irresponsibility and the sale of fireworks to youths should be banned.”

Police spokesman Rosy Alexander said: “Fireworks are not toys and should always be taken seriously. This could have been very serious but luckily nobody was injured.

“There have been other reported of disturbance with fireworks in the Victoria Park area and we are following up witness reports that young people in a silver Corsa car could help our enquiries”.