OUTRAGED Ammanford shoppers were left fuming after yobs ripped down one of the ornamental pear trees planted last autumn as part of the multi-million pound regeneration of Quay Street.

The tree, one of 11 eleven planted last year, was snapped just above ground level sometime over the weekend.

Disgusted shoppers had little doubt where to point the finger of blame after the damage was first spotted on Monday morning.

“It is an absolute disgrace,” one told the Guardian.

“Everyone knows it was the drunken yobs who get tanked up on a Saturday night and think it is a good laugh to go around smashing the place up.”

“These people should be ashamed of themselves.”

“I don’t care if they were just kids,” said another, “they should be locked up. If you are old enough to get drunk you are old enough to face the consequences.”

“It is shameful,” said a third, “the amount of money that was spent on Quay Street and these louts come along and do this.”

“What has become of our town,” said one pensioner.

Town councillor Wendy Evans called on the police to take swift action.

“The police say they have cameras everywhere so they should have no problem in identifying these vandals.

“We have been waiting for something like this to happen since the trees were planted, now lets hope the police will catch them and punish them.”