The public garden at the Old Courthouse in Axminster will be closed earlier in the evening after being targeted by vandals.

Axminster Town Council, which owns the building and public courtyard garden in Church Street, announced on social media this week that the garden would now be closed daily at 5.30pm to avoid any further damage.

The decision comes after several incidents of "mindless vandalism", with flower pots being broken and furniture damaged;.

A statement from the council said: "We apologise sincerely to those who regularly enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the garden but we have an obligation to protect both the town council's assets and also the business who operate within the complex too."