VANDALS have targeted a new £5,000 bus shelter hours after it was erected. The long-awaited replacement bus shelter in the centre of Sandy arrived two weeks ago but within 24 hours was daubed with graffiti. The new shelter in the Market Square replaces on

VANDALS have targeted a new £5,000 bus shelter hours after it was erected.

The long-awaited replacement bus shelter in the centre of Sandy arrived two weeks ago but within 24 hours was daubed with graffiti.

The new shelter in the Market Square replaces one which has been moved to nearby Bedford Road.

Now area police inspector John Maries says he is determined to nip the problem in the bud before it happens again.

"My beat manager will be looking into this incident regarding the bus shelter and we will attempt to find those responsible and bring them before the courts," said Insp Maries.

Sandy resident and chairman of the association Ken Lynch led a vigorous campaign for the new shelter saying the old one did not offer bus travellers enough protection from bad weather especially during the winter months.

A furious Mr Lynch said: "It is disgraceful that someone has put graffiti over the new bus stop already. I was shocked when I saw it and very angry.

"But it is wonderful we now have it and the association will be thanking Sandy Town Council for making it happen.

"Thanks also to The Comet for publicising our campaign and all those who signed our petitions.

"Some people said we were making a fuss about nothing but we were fighting to make travelling a lot more comfortable in bad weather."

Sandy Town Council finally relented and agreed to purchase the ultra modern bus shelter at a cost of £5,000.

It will eventually incorporate state-of-the-art technology. It will have a computerised information board, similar to those used on railway stations, informing passengers when the next bus is due to arrive.

Unfortunately, even though the shelter has the new technology, the information service will not go on line for several months because Arriva's buses have still to get the necessary equipment to relay the information.