THE vandals who trashed Lydney’s Bathurst open air swimming pool now have a £1,000 price ‘on their head’.

A group of anonymous local businessmen have offered £1,000 for information leading the arrest and conviction of the culprits who left a swathe of destruction behind them.

The hooligans are believed to have climbed over the perimeter wall using a ladder, smashed everything they could lay their hands on and dumped the wreckage in the pool.

Bob Berryman, chairman of the pool trustees, said: “The reaction of the public has been overwhelming,” and added that the committee is investigating ways of installing a CCTV security system at the pool in case of future attacks.

On Sunday two local divers Jamie Morris and James Herbert spent the morning clearing debris from the bottom of the pool after seeing the reports about the pool being vandalised and offered to help the committee out.

PC Henry Davies, the investigating officer, said: “We continue to appeal for witnesses to help us with our enquiries. This was a thoughtless and heinous crime and those responsible need to face the consequences.

“It is thought the intruders are from the local area and I encourage anyone with information to do the right thing and come forward to police. Call us on 101 quoting incident 219 of February 7.”