A MEMORIAL bench for the child victims of one of Britain's most notorious unsolved murders has been smashed in half by mindless vandals.

The bench in Wild Park dedicated to murdered schoolgirls Karen Hadaway and Nicky Fellows has been left unusable by unknown thugs.

Councillors said they were “angry” and “sickened” at the damage and said they would like to work with families to restore a fitting memorial to the Babes in the Woods.

Sussex Police are now investigating the incident after it was reported to them yesterday.

The bench marks the shocking killing of the two youngsters when they went missing from Moulsecoomb 30 years ago and were found dead in Wild Park the next day.

A similar act of vandalism, where a metre-long length was sawn out of the memorial bench, was uncovered in June 2007.

Banners marking their deaths and calling for justice for the unsolved crime hang from trees close to the vandalised bench.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chairwoman of the council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee, said: “I’m angry and sickened by this act of mindless vandalism, which must surely be very upsetting for the families affected.

“If there is one crumb of comfort to be had, it is that the other memorial bench commemorating the girls is still intact.

“We will be talking to the families to find out whether they wish to replace the vandalised bench.”

Labour ward councillor Michael Inkpin-Leissner described the incident as “horrible”.

He said: “It is just so disrespectful.

“My thoughts are with the families who must be very distressed by these pictures.

“I have a bench to my grandfather and I would be completely devastated so I understand what the family must be feeling with all the emotions and memories this must be bringing up.”

Fellow Hollingdean and Stanmer councillor Caroline Penn, who visited the crime scene yesterday, said: “I feel very upset about this incident - on behalf of the families and the local community.

“There is great community spirit here, and it gives us something to rely on when we are faced with this kind of mindless behaviour.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “The damage to this bench was reported to us by the council on Tuesday morning and we are investigating.

“At this stage it is not clear when the damage occurred and there is nothing to indicate who was responsible.”