DURSLEY had quite the weekend.

In the early hours of Sunday morning a number of hanging baskets along Parsonage Street were pulled from their brackets and tipped onto the pavement.

Then, sometime aboutround 24 hours later, the tyres of seven cars were slashed in a car park just off Long Street.

The response has shown howthat the inconsiderate and destructive acts carried out by vandals in a matter of minutes can ripple through an entire community. The reaction to both incidents has ranged from depression and disappointment to confusion and fury.

It is doubtful that those carrying out the acts of vandalism gave much thought to the consequences. In the case of the hanging baskets it is also doubtful they thought of the work people put into making Dursley a beautiful place to live.

It isn’t just Dursley in Bloom but a range of people and organisations coming together for the benefit of everyone living here. Because It’s not just a street these people are attacking but the very sense of community that makes Dursley such a special place to live.

Another troubling thought these incidents bring to light is the lack of police presence in the town on weekend evenings.

Yes, cuts have had a big impact on the force, and larger areas like Cheltenham and Gloucester will be a priority, but sometimes all it takes is a police car parked in a town centre to make people think twice.

Regardless, the Gazette is doubtless the community of Dursley will, as it always does, bounce back.