A GWENT councillor is blaming "yob culture" for a spate of vandalism in a 19th-century park.

Over the past three weeks in Bedwellty Park, Tredegar, glass has been smashed, cans and food scattered over the tennis courts, the tennis nets have been slashed and park benches have been destroyed.

Safety fences around the duck ponds have been dislodged and thrown into the water. In the past few years vandals have also targeted the park's bandstand and shelter.

Councillor John Williams is chairman of the Joint Park Committee, a group of police, park rangers and councillors who are trying to stop the vandalism.

"This park is one of the most beautiful in Gwent. Yob culture that we have in Tredegar is trying to destroy everything, and we as a group are going to stamp out this mindless vandalism by whatever measures it takes, including serving Asbos," he said.

Recently, £3,000 worth of tools used by gardeners with special needs were also stolen from the park.

Councillor Williams said: "Now these people, who do a very good job, have no tools to do their work. We just don't have the money to replace them."

Dr John Evans, clerk of Tredegar town council, said: "Every Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning, town councillors and staff spend hours picking up cans and bottles, including broken glass.

"The combination of booze, boys and girls leads to inevitable consequences and condoms are collected every week.

"Many of the children indulging in this anti-social behaviour are under 16 years of age.

"So far this year the mindless few have done thousands of pounds' worth of damage.

"That money comes out of the pockets of council tax-payers in Blaenau Gwent."

And he appealed to parents to keep track of their youngsters. Inspector Julia Walsh, of Tredegar police, put together a plan to combat vandalism that recommends signs showing the park's closing-time, CCTV, better lighting, and more frequent patrols by park rangers.

She said: "From now on rangers will be locking gates and telling occupants to leave.

"If they don't leave the police will be called. We have now also got keys so we can patrol it if needed."

Bedwellty Park was an ironmaster's park which was donated to the people of the town by Lord Tredegar in 1901.