A group of people are wanted by council officials and police after illegally cutting down trees in a Bexley park.

An appeal has been launched to help identify a group of people who carried out 'unauthorised and illegal tree cutting' in Steven Parks in Welling on Friday, January 29.

The group cut down a number of trees along the parks boundary with Selsey Crescent between 3pm and 4pm, and were caught on camera leaving the park and entering an unmarked white van.

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Cutting down trees within private property or public open space without permission is illegal, and the criminals also left their waste in the park.

This makes them liable for prosecution for fly-tipping, which carries a penalty of up to £50,000 or a 6-month prison sentence.

Council staff reported the incident to the police and say they will work with them to identify the culprits, then prosecute them for criminal damage.

Bexley Council said: "Dealing with the damage will take time and money, the cost of which will fall on Council Taxpayers

"The trees will also be adversely affected for the rest of their lives."

If you have any information, please contact the Council's Tree team as soon as possible. The Council will treat all information in confidence.

Email:trees@bexley.gov.uk

Call: 020 8303 7777 and ask for the Trees team.