Mindless vandalism reared its ugly head on Christmas Day in Ballygarrett when the environmentally enhancing and visitor attraction, the 5 Star Insect Hotel, was destroyed by fire.

Located at the old weighbridge beside the cemetery, the bug hotel was set alight around 9.50 pm on Christmas Day and all that is left are charred remains.

Ballygarrett Tidy Towns have posted an appeal on Facebook for anyone with information about the vandalism of the bug hotel to contact them as soon as possible and warned the vandal or vandals to remember the village is surrounded by CCTV.

The community is disappointed that such an event would occur in the village where volunteers have worked tirelessly over many years to brighten up the village.

Many new features have been added such as bicycles and boats decorated with flowers and the bug hotel was the latest initiative that has been there since the summer.

An insect hotel is created from natural materials and can come in all shapes and sizes consisting of different sections that provide insects with nesting facilities, particularly during winter, offering shelter or refuge for many types of bugs.

Full story in this week’s ECHO Group of Newspapers.