THE uncle of one of the ‘babes in the wood’ murdered thirty years ago has told of his heartbreak and disgust at vandals damaging their memorial bench.

Police and council officials have offered to replace the broken park bench in Wild Park where the bodies of Nicola Fellows and Karen Hadaway were found after they were killed in Brighton.

And the Brighton-based firm which helped install the memorial has also offered their services to help with any repairs or improvements.

Yesterday The Argus reported that Sussex Police were investigating damage to the bench, which stood in Wild Park near the spot where the bodies of the nine year olds were found the day after their disappearance from Moulsecoomb in October 1986.

Speaking exclusively to The Argus yesterday, Nicola's uncle Ian Heffron appealed for help to bring those who vandalised the memorial to justice.

He said: “It’s heartbreaking to think that someone could damage the memorial knowing its significance. It’s there to show how much we miss the girls.”

He added: “I’m asking if anyone has got information that they contact the police, or myself or The Argus.

"We want these people to be brought to justice. This is wrong. This is just wrong.”

Ian can be reached via the Babes in the Wood facebook page, “justice for babes in the woods.”

He welcomed the news that Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove City Council would replace the bench -one of two erected in memory of the girls.

In a statement police said their move to replace the bench reflected both the exceptionally horrific nature of the crimes and widespread anger and revulsion in the city at the vandalism.

The council’s lead member for the environment, Councillor Gill Mitchell, said: "This has touched a nerve with everyone I’ve spoken to over the last 24 hours. People are really upset about it.

"The families of the two girls must be devastated at the mindless desecration of a memorial to their loved ones.

"We think these are exceptional circumstances and I’m pleased that our colleagues at Sussex Police feel the same. We will be working jointly to replace the bench at no expense to the families.”

Sussex Police’s Chief Superintendent for Brighton and Hove, Nev Kemp, said: "We have offered to make a contribution to the costs of the repair and replacement of the bench because of the exceptionally tragic event that happened here in 1986.”

Allan Brown, finance director at KSD Environmental Services which helped install the bench, said: “Having read about this appalling act of vandalism in the paper, we wanted to offer our assistance in any way the family might wish.”

THIRTY YEARS ON, IT IS STILL A SACRED PLACE

WHEN the bodies of Nicky Fellows and Karen Hadaway were discovered in Wild Park nearly 30 years ago, two families’ lives were ripped apart.

Their loved ones have faced years of heartache trying to keep the memories of their beautiful girls alive but yesterday more distress was served to these families who still have not seen justice for their murdered daughters.

Ian Heffron, Nicky’s uncle, said: “We’re disgusted by what has happened, it beggars belief that it’s happened and it begs the question, did they really understand the significance of the memorial?

“It’s heartbreaking to think that someone could damage the memorial knowing its significance. It’s there to show how much we miss the girls.”

Nicola and Karen, both nine, were found raped and murdered in Wild Park in Brighton, on October 10, 1986, having gone missing the day before.

The prime suspect in the murders, Russell Bishop, was found not guilty by a jury in 1987, but four years later was tried, convicted and jailed for the rape and attempted murder of a seven-year-old Whitehawk girl.

The damaged bench, now just a pair of concrete posts with one wooden plank, sits in a spot in the park considered almost sacred by the families.

It is situated near a hawthorn tree which marked the closest to the scene of the crime the families were allowed while investigations were ongoing.

Every year they hold a vigil there and even now the bench and nearby trees are often host to banners marking their deaths and trinkets, flowers and cards are left for the girls.

Ian said he hoped whoever had desecrated such a hallowed spot did not know what they were doing.

“If it was dark and they were drunk then maybe they didn’t know it was the girls’ bench,” he said.

“I’d like to think it’s somebody just committing mindless vandalism, because I just can’t believe anyone could do such a disgusting thing against a memorial to two girls who were so cruelly taken.”

“Whoever it was, it’s for them to come forward and say sorry and for them to try to make it right.”

Ian said he believed someone must know who vandalised the bench and appealed for anyone with information to share it.

He said: “I’m asking if anyone has got information that they contact the police or myself or The Argus.

“Somebody must know who these people are, and feel disgusted with it just like we do and they will tell us who did it.

“We want these people to be brought to justice. This is wrong. This is just wrong.”

The 61-year-old said the family was grateful to Sussex Police and the council for offering to share the cost of replacing the memorial bench.