ARTISTS behind Southend’s striking hare sculptures have spoken of their heartbreak after their treasured work was trashed by vandals.

Three sculptures - part of the Southend Hares About Town trail - were damaged by “mindless” thugs in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Two of them were removed from the trail while repairs take place.

Among the works targeted was Esme Taylor’s tattoo hare, otherwise known as Harold Finehare, which was left toppled over on its plinth on Southend seafront.

Esme had covered the hare in tributes from families across Southend, remembering their loved ones lost both before and during the Covid pandemic.

The 49-year-old, from Leigh, said: “That’s what is the most hurtful for me. It really has affected so many, this was about the people of Southend.

“One of the ladies asked if I could put the tattoo on her back on there, which was for her niece who died very young.

“I also put a tribute to her friend’s partner on there too who had passed in the Covid pandemic, and the dad on the front was for my dad.

“We’ve also had children designing tattoos to put on there, and I worked with King Edmund School on the project. But these people don’t realise what’s funny to them is not a joke, this is more than just a sculpture on the seafront.”

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Ellie Miller, director of care for Havens Hospices, which will benefit when the hares are auctioned off, said: “I’m shocked and appalled. It is devastating on so many levels.”

Lissie Art’s hare, Hop, Skip and Splash, has also been removed and is undergoing repairs, having been left with a broken ear after being yanked off it’s plinth.

The third piece - An English Country Garden by Lynne Campen - toppled over but was thankfully restored, and has been re-installed.

Lynne, 52, from Hockley, said: “It makes me really sad and just angry thinking about it, I hope they or their families don’t ever need the hospice and their services. It does make you so disappointed in people.

“It’s for such a good cause, which is even more infuriating.”

A police probe has been launched into the vandalism, while the fire service, Southend Council and its contractor, Veolia, all helped deal with the aftermath of the damage.

Anyone with information should email info@haresabouttown.co.uk or contact Essex Police on 101.