Anglesey,Machynlleth,North Wales -Hugging tree decorated in memory of murdered schoolgirl has been vandalised

Coral Jones inspects damage to the hugging tree on Sunday morning (left) which was re-decorated by local people last May (right)

• 28 FEB 2016
• BY SAM TEGELTIJA

The damage was discovered by April's father Paul over the weekend

A hugging tree created in memory of murdered schoolgirl April Jones has been vandalised.

Coral Jones, April’s mother, has spoken of her anger at the damage to the knitted patchwork decoration on the tree, which she says must have happened between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The tree, on Penrach Hill near Machynlleth, was originally decorated in a series of pink knitted squares created by people in the community, intended to provide a place for people go and reflect and also leave messages for April.

The hugging tree was created in memory of April Jones, left

It was re-decorated most recently before Christmas, with items and messages received following an overwhelming response to a Facebook campaign.

But damage to the tree’s decorations was found on Sunday morning by April’s father Paul.

'People’s hard work has gone into it'

Coral said: “The damage has been done between last night [Saturday] and this morning. My husband walked up there with the dog and found it ripped. We are not happy about it at all.

“People’s hard work has gone into that to send us the squares and to put it together.

“I don’t know who started it originally, but it was when April went missing.”

Damage to the hugging tree

Mark Bridger kidnapped five-year-old April in Machynlleth before murdering her and disposing of her body in October 2012. He is serving a whole-life term in prison.

Coral said items from around the world have been sent to decorate the tree in April’s memory.

'It's definitely been ripped by someone'

“People enjoy doing it,” she added. “It’s something different. Before, all the patches were pink and now it’s rainbow-coloured. We’ve been sent teddy bears, messages, patches with April’s name on and wind chimes.

“Lots of people have sent them from all over the place – Wales, England and abroad.

The hugging tree in memory of April Jones, when it was being re-decorated in May 2015

“It’s definitely been ripped by someone. I went to see it today with my friend Cathy, who was one of the people who decorated it last summer.

“The damage couldn’t have been done by the weather – we didn’t have bad weather last night.

More: April Jones' grandfather backs Brexit to end European meddling in British courts

“What thrill do people get out of vandalising it? People we’ve told are very angry about it.”

Jo James, one of the people behind the ‘Our lil Welsh Princess April Jones forever in our hearts’ Facebook page, added they will be asking people to send more items in order to re-decorate the tree.

see- http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/hugging-tree-decorated-memory-murdered-10962858