BY IAN ROSS

MINDLESS vandals have been condemned for their latest attack on Congleton Railway Station.

The yobs smashed their way into the main waiting room, tearing down Christmas decorations and stealing the clock above the ticket office.

They also ripped down a telephone only recently moved from the waiting room to the platform for the use of passengers.

The smashed window is currently boarded up, as are windows in the waiting room on the opposite platform, where scores of names have been chiselled into the brickwork.

Station staff also face a continual battle against graffiti, which covers the supports to the nearby canal bridge.

The hooligans came under fire from station booking clerk Tony Moore, who said the current vandalism was the worst he had experienced in his 18 years at the station.

"The telephone was moved from the main waiting room to the platform so passengers could ring family and friends when the station is closed in the afternoon and evening," said Mr Moore.

"I can remember the glory days when Congleton Station used to win awards, and I feel embarrassed at the boarded-up appearance of the station.

"I put up the decorations to make the waiting room more attractive, only to find them scattered around when I opened up."