Vandals hack at dinosaur models

10:09am Tuesday 15th May 2001

VANDALS who attempted to chop the heads off two dinosaurs in Crystal Palace Park caused more than £8,000 damage.

The incident came as the two dinosaurs, made from a mix of stone and plaster, were undergoing a complete restoration as part of a £4m park renovation project funded by Bromley Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Mr Brian Turpin, head of marketing and development for Bromley Council, said: “The fact that the models of the dinosaurs were in the process of being restored makes the vandalism even worse.”

The Grade II listed dinosaurs were constructed in 1857 and have been on the island in Crystal Palace Park ever since.

The lake surrounding the island was drained last autumn to give dinosaur restoration experts, led by Professor Peter Doyle of the University of Greenwich, easy access to the statues of the prehistoric beasts. A security fence was also placed around the lake to protect the statues from vandals.

But it was the easy access route for the purpose of restoration which put a group of thugs on the road to destruction.

After smashing through the security fencing, the gang made its way across the drained-out lake where it set about trying to decapitate two prehistoric crocodiles.

Although parts knocked off the statues were recovered at the scene, the extensive restoration work, due to finish in spring next year, has been seriously disrupted.

Bromley Council is now looking into extra security measures to ensure a similar incident does not occur.

Police are urging anyone who heard or witnessed anything unusual in or around the area of Crystal Palace Park over the bank holiday weekend of May 4 to May 8 to call Bromley Police on 020 8284 8060 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.