Angry residents say they are “disgusted” and “heartbroken” after a park viewing station was smashed up by mindless vandals.

The Saltmarsh Hub in Promenade Park, Maldon, was closed to the public again after the vandals smashed through two panes of glass on the upper level of the platform.

The incident has come after the bottom area of the look-out station was also vandalised some months ago.

Dave Hamilton, of Maldon, said he was incredibly frustrated that CCTV cameras have not yet been installed at the site.

He said: “It is patently obvious cameras have not been installed.

“Nearly all the windows have now been kicked out.

“I just wonder how long it will be before it is destroyed by a pyrotechnic vandal.”

Maldon District Council also aired its “deep frustration” at the incident, which will see further costs put into the look-out station rather than making other improvements in the park.

A spokesman said: “Vandalism is a deeply frustrating and disappointing problem which diverts resources away from providing valued services and detracts from people’s enjoyment of our parks and open spaces.

“We have reported this latest mindless vandalism to Essex Police along with CCTV footage from the park.”

Residents were also left upset by the incident.

Carole Johnson, of Heybridge, told the Standard the vandals that did it were “disgusting, and really sad.”

She added: “We said this was bound to happen when it was built.

“It is such a shame.

“The intentions were great. We are so lucky to live in such a nice place, but as usual, it gets abused.”

The lookout station was a part of the now-stalled Dengie Gateway Project.

The station was part of the plan, launched in 2015, as a way of boosting visitor numbers by up to 50,000 and bringing in £1.8million of revenue.

Another Heybridge resident, Helena Foreman, said she was concerned careless youngsters are the ones committing acts such as this, and stopping people wanting to visit the park as a result.

She said: “Absolute heartbreaking, I loved going in there when walking my little dog.

“I hope they are caught and convicted. I also think their parents should pick up the bill for all the repairs.”