THE bandstand at Greenhill Gardens in Weymouth has been destroyed by strong winds.

The bandstand, which is regularly used by charities and local groups throughout the year, was wrecked after its poles were twisted and broken.

The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning at the weekend with force 8 winds sweeping the county.

Barbara Dubben, chairman of The Friends of Greenhill Gardens, said the wind blew up the structure’s canvas ripping the front off, and sending parts of the bandstand flying on to the esplanade.

She added: “One minute it was there and the next it was gone. The wind had got up the canvas and had ripped the front off.

“We had to cut the rest of it to make it safe. It was flying on to the esplanade. The wind was so strong. The framework was made up of scaffolding poles and the gust of wind must have been so horrendous because the poles were broken and twisted by it.”

The Friends of Greenhill Garden were forced to cancel their annual Christmas service due to the incident. However, the group didn’t let the weather stop them from spreading festive cheer as they were still joined by around 40 people to sing Christmas songs and share mince pies.

The bandstand was purchased around five years ago after a long fundraising campaign by The Friends of Greenhill Gardens, and the bandstand has since helped raise money to maintain the gardens.

Mrs Dubben said: “It has been in operations for five years and has helped raise money for the gardens, for Weldmar and for numerous other charities.

“I just don’t know what we can do apart from fundraise for it again. It is such a shame.”

According to Mrs Dubben, next year’s programme for the bandstand’s use has already been published. She added: “We have to do something to get it back for those events.”

The Friends of Greenhill Garden have been fundraising for a new welcoming archway in celebration of the Queen, however, Mrs Dubben said the group is reluctant to use the funds to repair the bandstand.

She said: “We have raised more than 10,000 pound for it and the local authority has given us money along with rotary and the BID, but we are reluctant to use that for the bandstand.”