A WILDLIFE park owner is in "despair" after vandals caused £800 worth of damage to a sign over the weekend.

The 2ft by 4ft Welcome sign at Eagle Heights in Eynsford was ripped from its wooden back board, bent in half and stuffed behind the original sign which was put up 15 years ago.

It happened between 11pm on Friday (March 2) and 7.30am on Saturday (March 3).

Eagle Heights owner, Alan Ames, told News Shopper: "It's another annoying incident, it's just so unnecessary.

"I'm worn out and have had enough. Everything we try and do is just prevented."

The 56-year-old added: "I just despair really. We try and try and try but as soon as you get up, somebody knocks you down again.

"It does get a bit disheartening.

"I wouldn't mind it if I was making millions of pounds, but I'm not."

The family run business was the victim to thieves in 2009 when a minibus was also stolen before being abandoned after Mr Ames gave chase.

He says there was also a spate of break-ins and thefts when chickens, ferrets and ducks were stolen.

The recent damage will set the family back in their fundraising, which not only goes towards their own rescued animals, but also for many of the worldwide charities it supports such as The Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia.

Anyone with information should call Kent Police on 101 quoting reference YY/3980/12