A great-grandmother from Westbury was devastated when a memorial to her late husband was vandalised.

Val Billings, 67, of Briar Close planted a tree in Westbury’s ‘secret garden’ next to All Saints Church in Church Lane in memory of her husband Sydney, who died in May 2005 aged 76, and scattered his ashes underneath it.

The former corporal with the Royal Army Service Corps died from cancer caused by asbestos he was exposed to through his work as a carpenter.

Between 4-6pm on May 5 vandals caused havoc in the garden by uprooting trees and vandalising garden furniture.

Mrs Billings said: “I was devastated when I found out because you don’t expect that type of thing to happen in Westbury. There is a plaque by the tree saying its a memorial so whoever did it knew what it was.

“I know teenagers sometimes don’t have a lot to do but they are old enough to be respectful. They should be brought up with standards.

“Sydney said he didn’t want to have his ashes scattered at Semington or any other crematorium, and the tree was so lovely. It was in its second season.

“We have got a new tree from Erlestoke prison and they told us that the prisoners had found out about the story and they were disgusted.”

Garden owner Roy Inwood, who lives in Churchyard, Westbury, said: “I was fuming at the time. Its sick and mindless behaviour. It makes you feel like you don’t want to open up the gardens because you can’t trust people.

“Its a churchyard and therefore sacred ground but some people can’t seem to get that round their heads.

“I’d been in London during the day and I came back to lock the gardens up, because I leave them open for the benefit of the public, and that’s when I saw the damage.

“There were conifer trees uprooted and thrown across the grounds, a memorial tree had been snapped, mud had been thrown everywhere, and bamboo canes that were used to support plant were broken.”

Wiltshire Police have confirmed that a 14-year-old was arrested on Monday in connection with the incident.