Coleridge Memorial Trust is appealing for information after ‘thoughtless damage’ was caused to panels remembering Ottery’s ‘most famous son’.

Sidmouth Herald: The Coleridge Memorial Trust boards have been damaged. Ref sho 03 18TI 6436. Picture: Terry IfeThe Coleridge Memorial Trust boards have been damaged. Ref sho 03 18TI 6436. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

The boards, honouring Samuel Taylor Coleridge, were damaged for a second time at the weekend after vandals smashed the protective glass layer. An artwork detailing the life and work of the poet was also damaged.

The Coleridge Memorial Trust is currently trying to raise £100,000 to build a bronze life size statue to the poet. Chairman John Pilsworth said: “The panels were partly paid for by the generosity of local people and have stood on the Land of Canaan since June 2012 to remind visitors and local people of the poetic genius of ‘a local Ottery boy’.”

He said the ‘thoughtless destruction of community property’ had been reported and urged anyone with information to come forward.

Residents with any information can call the police on 101 quoting crime reference CR/004705/18.