VANDALS have attacked a popular beauty spot in Portishead - daubing it with bright blue paint. Hooligans have scrawled their names in paint over the viewing platform at the lake at Galingale Road at The Vale. A five-bar gate at the entrance to the park, a

VANDALS have attacked a popular beauty spot in Portishead - daubing it with bright blue paint.Hooligans have scrawled their names in paint over the viewing platform at the lake at Galingale Road at The Vale.A five-bar gate at the entrance to the park, a popular spot with mums and their children, has also been damaged for the second time in several months.Local residents say they believe the damage has been done by a gang of teenage girls who gather at the lake at night.Resident Geraldine Box (pictured right) said: "The viewing platform is used by so many people, especially those in wheelchairs or motorised buggies."Whoever did it have left a great piece of evidence for the local police as they have painted their names all over it."Some parent somewhere must be missing a tin of bright blue paint. My husband and I often go out for a walk in the evening around the park and often see gangs of youngsters gathering there. It is such a nice park and we really enjoying living here and using the area and it is a shame a small minority are choosing to spoil it for others."Mrs Box said she had also discovered bags of empty bottles and cans thrown in the hedgerows.She added: "I was out walking the other day and saw a bag on the floor and it was stuffed with empty bottles and cans."It is obvious the young people are meeting here at night to sit and drink."We do not want this park to become an area where this becomes a regular occurrence."Police in the town have carried out regular patrols of areas frequented by youths at night, including the Lake Grounds, seizing alcohol from teens found drinking underage.North Somerset Council spokesman Richard Turner said: "We are responsible for maintaining the area but were not aware of the recent damage."We will be sending out a member of staff to inspect the damage and then make arrangements to get it cleaned up and repaired.