CHILDREN as young as 10 are believed to be responsible for destroying a tree that was one of only six in the country.

The vandals broke into the garden of the Richard Jefferies Museum and destroyed the russet apple tree.

The incident is the latest in a long list of attacks on the home of the renowned 19th-century nature writer.

Jean Saunders, a member of the Richard Jefferies Society, said: "We have recently learnt there are only about six of these trees in the country.

"This time the kids have damaged something quite rare."

A russet tree was planted by Richard Jefferies' father in the 1840s.

That died in the late 1990s and the current one was grown from a section of the tree which was saved and nurtured in a garden in Brighton.

Mrs Saunders, 60, said: "It's very young kids, aged 10 to 13, who are responsible for this. They have already destroyed rooms of buildings and smash windows regularly.

"Now they have started to have a go at the fruit trees and they have completely destroyed that one.

"They just have no respect for history or property. It's very disheartening to see."

The damage, which has been reported to the police, was carried out on Sunday or Monday.

Mrs Saunders said: "The tree had only been planted last year and now it has been destroyed completely.

"This is the second attempt to grow the tree from a piece of the one in Brighton. The first was vandalised in 2002.

"Not only is it an apple tree that grows nowhere else apart from the ones that the Richard Jefferies Society has distributed, it's a tree that Richard Jefferies used to absolutely love.

"He used to sit under it and it was one of his inspiration points."

Earlier this month the Adver reported a spate of vandalism at the house which had seen windows repeatedly smashed.

The house has architectural features dating back to the 1700s, which are being steadily ruined Swindon police spokeswoman Alvina Kumar said: "We are keen to hear from anyone who has information on this appalling act of vandalism.

"The Richard Jefferies Museum is part of the town's heritage and we will not tolerate it being subjected to this sort of behaviour."

Anyone with information should call Swindon police on 0845 408 7000 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.