HEARTLESS vandals have targeted a special tree dedicated to the memory of tragic Machynlleth schoolgirl April Jones.

The “hugging tree”, which is on a hill overlooking the Jones family’s own memorial tree, was first decorated in 2013 by Machynlleth residents who wanted somewhere to pay tribute to April. And it has grown to become a focus for the outpouring of sympathy for the Jones family.

People from all over the UK have decorated the tree with knitted squares, as a tribute to the murdered five-year-old.

But while walking their dog over the weekend, April’s father Paul was shocked and dismayed to find that some of the squares had been torn.

April’s grieving mother says she “can’t get over” the mindless act.

She said: “It’s a horrible feeling that someone could come and damage it. I just can’t get over it happening in a small, lovely town like this. You just don’t understand how anyone could do it.

“When Paul was walking past and saw it, he was shocked. Paul was walking the dog on Sunday morning and noticed it. He’d been past on Saturday though and it was okay.

“As far as we can work out it was deliberate. It looked like it’s been ripped by somebody.

“Nothing like this has ever happened before. I just don’t know what goes through people’s minds.”

Despite the damage, Coral said there were already plans to redecorate the hugging tree.