Police and residents came together in Chislehurst to take a stand against vandalism.

Age UK Bromley and Greenwich hosted the vintage tea party on Wednesday (May 20) at their Chislehurst High Street branch.

Last summer, the centre was the victim of vandals destroying one of their benches and stealing the other.

With only two left, they’ve been raising funds to get some new ones installed for their Chislehurst Day Centre.

Cake sales, a raffle and face painting chalked up £228, and with one bench being donated, they will have three new benches.

Kay Dixon, events manager, said: “They completely destroyed one of the benches; the other wasn’t tied down so we’re going to put down slabs for the new ones.

MORE TOP STORIES “The local police responded to our request for assistance and increased their patrols of the area and apprehended the young people creating the problem.”

She estimated the new garden furniture should arrive within six weeks.

PCSO Laura Down, from Chislehurst north east safer neighbourhoods, said: “Age UK was a favourite amongst the younger visitors to the area as a place to loiter outside and cause not only a nuisance toward the residents living in the flats above but also cause damage to the property / facilities of the centre.

“Unfortunately even though last summers patrols by us kept the crime to a low level the benches on the front green were vandalised and had to be removed.

“During the summer months this area is used by the elderly at the centre as well as members of the public. The money that is raised on the day will go towards new benches.”

The centre, which has six flats above it, also had CCTV installed.