THE community has rallied around after a tree dedicated to babies that died was destroyed by heartless vandals.

Families from all over Banbury are invited to a re-dedication of the 'baby tree' in People's Park this week after the first one was snapped in half.

The memorial, decorated with ribbons and poignant messages for babies who did not get the chance to live, was found damaged on March 25, the day before Mother's Day.

But less than two months on from the devastation, residents, local representatives and Horton General Hospital campaigners have pulled together for a replacement.

On Friday, May 12, a new tree with the salvaged ribbons tied on will be planted in the park at a blessing ceremony.

Val Ingram, a spokeswoman for the Save Our Horton campaign, said the first tree appeared to have been vandalised.

She said: "We retrieved the ribbons so that they were safe because it was causing quite a lot of upset, and went about arranging for a replacement."

Permission has been granted by Banbury Town Council to plant a replacement, which is likely to be a field maple.

Horton View-based funeral directors Edd Frost & Daughters donated £80 towards the new tree.

Mr Frost said: "We look after a lot of baby funerals in the area and it's very important to us that the families are given support.

"We were mortified to hear of what happened on the Mothering Sunday weekend and we felt something should be done quickly."

The re-dedication ceremony will take place from 1pm to 4pm in the park and those that hung ribbons on the previous tree will be invited to do so again.

The tree will be blessed by the Revd Philip Cochrane, vicar at St Mary's Church in Horse Fair, and planted by Banbury MP Victoria Prentis and Karen Hancox of bereavement charity Oxfordshire SANDS, with a plaque explaining its significance placed alongside it.

Mrs Ingram added that in the interim period a small, mystery third tree had also appeared in the same part of the park, which the council is also permitting to stay.

She said: "We don't know whether it was someone who felt upset, or the perpetrators.

"It's very generous of them if so because they would normally pull it up."