A COMMUNITY-built bug hotel was set alight by vandals at a park in Yate last week.

The structure had been created in Kingsgate Park as a part of a summer project for local youngsters, and also to attract beneficial insects and other creatures to the site.

Firefighters were called to the scene at around 9.45pm on Friday night and remained there until 11pm, putting it out and making sure it did not ignite again.

The Friends of Kingsgate Park had been involved in the hotel’s creation and group secretary, Judith Cameron, took a friend to see the structure on Saturday afternoon, only to discover its charred remains.

“I was stunned to find it had been burnt to the ground,” she said.

“I could have cried.”

But after hearing about the hotel’s fate, residents came together to replace it with an even more impressive construction.

“I put photos of the charred remains on our Facebook page and have been stunned by the number of messages I have received,” Mrs Cameron said.

“I also received lots of offers of help and items for the new hotel, which we have been constructing this week.”

The first hotel had been sited in a secluded area of the park, which would have provided the arsonists with cover while they set it alight. The new bug home has been placed in a more visible position. Cadets and officers from 2509 Squadron Yate and Chipping Sodbury ATC lent a hand with its assembly on Tuesday.

“The Friends, along with Yate Town Council Estates’ team, will not allow these mindless vandals to spoil what we are trying to do in the park,” said Mrs Cameron.

“We are very proud of our amazing facility. Since the group came into existence in 2003, we have worked with Yate Town Council to enhance the park and to make it somewhere everyone can enjoy.”

A speedy rebuild was particularly important, as a judge from the South West In Bloom competition will be visiting the park on Friday morning. The Friends of Kingsgate Park have entered the site into the Pride in Parks Award.