Dutch visitors become victims of village vandals

Vice chairman of the twinning association committee, Bert Bowden of Palliser Road, said that the missiles seemed to have come from the newly-excavated building site next door, which is to be developed as affordable housing.
"The fence is obviously not secure and there are massive piles of earth, chalk and flintstones there. Some lads thought it was a good idea to climb on the pile and throw flinstones at the coach," he said.
A fellow member of the twinning association committee, who asked not to be named, described the damage as "mindless vandalism" and said that it had disappointed the Dutch guests.
"Next year will be our 30th anniversary and we will be asking the local community for their help and surveillance to ensure that such an event does not occur again," he said.
Mr Bowden, who has been involved with exchange visits organised by the two towns for 23 years, said that despite the vandalism, the Dutch visitors had enjoyed their trip, which included a visit to the music museum at Brentford, a tour of Windsor and the Saville gardens and a visit to the RAF Museum at Hendon.
PC Jim Clarke said: "The police are frustrated by this situation because the village has worked hard to develop links with the Dutch village. Someone in the village knows who has done this and we would like them to come forward with information. We will take robust action."