THOUSANDS of pounds of damage has been caused after a number of combine harvesters were vandalised while parked up at a sales ground.

Windscreens were smashed out of farming vehicles at the Wessex Machinery sale ground in Shaftesbury.

North Dorset Police attended the scene on Wednesday. 

A police spokesman said: "Several thousand pounds worth of damage has been caused.

"If you see anything suspicious in the area or people entering the site through the perimeter fence please call police straight away."

One commentator, posting on social media, said: "Do people realise that without farmers and their machinery there's no food, or beer?"