Bungling tree surgeons have decimated Worcester Park’s treasured war memorial.

Devastated war veterans gathered round the fallen plinth, just off Central Road, this morning convinced it was the work of vandals.

But on closer inspection clearly visible tyre tracks on the base of the plinth indicated a lorry had attempted to squeeze past.

Black marks were also visible on the memorial itself where the lorry bumped into the 15-foot memorial before it toppled and smashed.

A nearby hairdresser also claimed he saw a tree surgeon’s lorry in the park the night before the memorial was reproted damaged.

And within the park freshly pruned trees and bushed could be seen - giving further weight to the probability of it being an accident rather than vandalism.

The surgeons were, according to Sutton Council who hired them, cutting down a large tree in the park.

One resident Bob Turner, of Worcester Park and the Royal British Legion, was clearly in shock.

He said: “I can’t believe what I’m seeing. It’s heartbreaking to think people show such little respect for a memorial deciated to those who gave their lives in the war.

“It just so careless. If lorries do need to get in why don’t they just move the memorial back to allow room for them to get into the park.”

The council have stated that the tree contractors would have to foot the bill for a new war memorial.

How would you punish the tree surgeons? Fine, public flogging or tar and featherings?

Councillor Adrian Davey, Chair of Cheam North and Worcester Park Local Committee, said: “We were devastated to learn of the damage to the Worcester Park War Memorial after an accident involving a van belonging to contractors working on the trees in the church yard.

“War memorials play a very important part in honouring those who sacrificed so much for our country and we will make sure that the damage is rectified as soon as possible. The contractors will be covering the full cost of the repairs.”