BIRD SPOTTERS and wildlife enthusiasts have raised more than £1,000 to help replace vandalised bird hides on Two Tree Island.

Two hides on the Leigh nature reserve have been targeted with one hit by arsonists in April and another smashed to pieces last week.

The first hide included a £1,500 picture board for birdwatchers to identify species supplied by a family from Westcliff in memory of Marion Boulton who died in 2015.

Her husband, Michael Boulton, 83, tragically died in the same year a few days after a fire at his home in Arundel Gardens.

His daughter-in-law, Sarah-Jayne Boulton, 42, and son Billy, 44, were left distraught at the latest act of vandalism.

Mr Boulton said: “The second hide is a couple of hundred yards away from the first one targeted by arsonists. It has been smashed up and graffitied and by the looks of what’s written it seems someone was angry with some other people.

“Outside it looks like they’ve taken a sledge hammer to it. The roof is completely destroyed.”

Mr Boulton added: “It looks like someone has gone there with the tools and intent on smashing it up. You couldn’t do it without the tools and it must have taken quite a while.

“From what I understand Essex Wildlife Trust is looking at installing something more vandal-proof. The donations are really helping. We’ve had donations given to us and more than £800 raised by the just giving page. People have been very supportive.”

A Justgiving page has been set up to raise funds to replace the hide with a less vulnerable structure.

Essex Wildlife Trust conservation officer Macbradan Bones last week the latest attack had caused at least £800 of damage, with previous attacks costing up to £3,000.

Mr Bones welcomed donations from the public.

He said: “We had so much support from people last time; we had a lot of donations so to see it happen again is such a shame.

“It was really popular, especially over winter when the Brent geese flock to Essex in their thousands.

“At the moment, we have nesting wading birds which now the public can’t see.

Police are investigating the latest attack. Call 101 with crime reference 42/84425/19.

To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sara-jayne-baalham1