A Llanidloes County Councillor has branded vandals as “irresponsible idiots” after they damaged nest boxes made by local schoolchildren.

Cllr Gareth Morgan made the comments at a town council meeting after hearing a recent attack on the Allt Goch Nest Project.

Cllr Morgan said: “I was rather saddened to hear that some of the nest boxes have been damaged. Bearing in mind that so many of the work was done by the children of our schools, to have irresponsible idiots damaging and interfering in that way, it’s very sad. It’s not something that we expect in our community.”

He added: “It’s a fascinating project and it brings a lot of enjoyment to me and to others who see it.”

The nest boxes were found damaged on March 10. Project co-ordinator Ceri Jones said she was “absolutely shocked and stunned” to find the boxes removed.

“They have quite clearly taken a battering,” she said.

The boxes have been repaired and returned to the woodland.