A SIGN advertising an upcoming charity event in Weymouth has been “almost completely destroyed.”

The 12 foot by 3 foot sign, which is tied to a wooden fence on the A354 Weymouth Way near Chafey’s roundabout, was ripped almost in two sometime on Monday.

The sign was advertising Sunday’s charity dog show at Budmouth College, which is being held in aid of the Guide Dogs association, and had cost organisers £50 to purchase.

Ian Brooke, a member of the Melcombe Regis Rotary club, which is organising the event, said the banner had been “almost completely destroyed”. He added: “We might be able to repair it with gaffer-tape, but my worry is that someone has cut it with a knife and that means someone is walking around with a knife in their pocket.

“We think it was done by vandals and have reported it to the police, it’s quite worrying really.”

Mary Larkin, Guide Dog association volunteer, said she was absolutely gutted at the news.

She said: “The dog show this weekend is a charity event for a good cause and respectable charity.

“These banners cost us a lot of money and it really does beggar belief that someone could do such a thing.

The dog show will be held between 9.30 and 4.30pm at Budmouth College on Sunday.