THE volunteers who give up long hours of their time to maintain Ruardean Hill’s Pan Tod beauty spot were devastated when wild boar ripped the area apart.

Maurice Bent, spokesman for the Friends of Pan Tod, said: “It is absolutely heartbreaking. We have had boar damage and vandalism in the past but this is the worst yet.

Tim Gwilliam, Leader of Forest of Dean District Council, who visited the site, said: “With winter coming on this is the sort of damage we are going to have throughout the area over the next six months.

“The whole situation needs to be managed properly but to do that we need ton have Defra involved.”

Maurice Bent added: “There are now 16 volunteers some from other communities willing to contribute to the upkeep.

“Folks should know it takes two volunteers five hours to do mowing and strimming, for which we are most grateful.

“Previously, on at least three occasions, volunteers have had to level the damage on Pan Tod.

“This year a sow had her little ones on the site which was reported to the commission, damage was done below the miner’s statue which had to be rectified and made safe to mow.