It's the second time in a year that the tree was planted at Derian House Children's Hospice in Astley Village.

Bosses at the hospice are disgusted that the cherry tree was targeted and are urging the vandals to stop their sick antics.

The tree is one of many memorial trees at the entrance to the hospice which were planted to celebrate and remember the lives of children who have died at Derian House.

The charity, which relies on donations, has been the target of yobs who have damaged fences and plants.

Paul Booth, maintenance manager at the hospice, said: "It's sickening. You come to work every morning and to see this makes me so angry. It's soul-destroying.

"We're trying to raise funds for the hospice and you get idiots who do this.

"It has an impact on the hospice because you have to replace the tree."
It is believed that the damage was done overnight on Tuesday or during the early hours of Wednesday.

Five years ago three trees were dug up and stolen but it is the second time a memorial tree has been destroyed in this way.

Roya Khadem, fundraising co-ordinator at Derian House, said: "We will have to raise extra funds to get another tree when it could go to something else that's needed.

"This is a tree that was replaced last year and it's unbelievable what people will do.

"We will be starting work on a new teenage unit later on in the year and most donations will be going towards that.

"It's just very sad to think that people go out to damage a memorial tree, which was planted there to keep the memory of our children alive."