VANDALS caused damage totalling around £1,000 in a 'senseless' attack on a West Somerset Railway coach.

The coach was struck at around 9pm last Monday night (April 29) while stabled overnight at Bishops Lydeard in sidings.

The damage caused was mainly broken glass, said a WSR spokesperson, with three large carriage windows and two droplight windows in doors smashed.

The damage is estimated to cost £1,000 to replace and repair.

A member of the public contacted WSR about the damage, and general manager Paul Conibeare attended the scene and informed police.

The coach has now been moved to Minehead to undergo repairs, but is expected to be out of action for several days. 

Mr Conibeare said: "This sad, senseless and costly attack on us is bad news, especially coming at a time when we are all working so hard to build the railway back up again.

“Suffering £1,000 worth of damage represents a big loss to us at any time, but I'd like to thank the member of the local Bishops Lydeard community who called the railway on the night and reported it to us.

"Mindless vandalism obviously hurts the railway, but we are determined to keep the WSR running and so providing a major tourist attraction in Somerset."

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting incident number 5219 093628.