A CHARITY has been hit with a suspected arson attack in their community garden.

Trust Links, a mental health and wellbeing charity based in Southend, believe they were targeted by arsonists, who set fire to their beloved community garden earlier this week.

The garden, part of the charity's Growing Together Shoebury project, saw the hedge in the corner completely destroyed, along with fire damage to the nearby grass mounds.

Bosses say this has damaged habitat crucial for frogs, toads, and other wildlife.

The charity has said this is part of a series of break ins at the garden over a number of years, with people reportedly climbing over the fences, damaging the polytunnels, smashing pots and burning some of the children’s crafts.

Matt King, CEO of Trust Links, said: “This is yet another heart breaking challenge experienced at our community garden in Shoebury.

"We are looking forward to welcoming members back to the site for socially distanced gardening and they will be so disappointed to see that their garden has been damaged again.

"At a time where mental health is vulnerable anyway, the last thing people need is a fire at the community garden that is so valued by the local community.

"Luckily there is no long term damage to the site and our upgraded CCTV system will be installed, so hopefully this will be the last of these types of attacks.”

Echo:

Essex Police and the fire service are working to determine the cause of the fire.

A spokesman for the charity added: "If anyone has any information on the attack, please call 101 with the crime reference number 42/108728/20."