SOUTHEND'S historic Queen Victoria statue has again been targeted by vandals.

Ann Holland, councillor responsible for leisure, attacked the "mindless idiots" who climbed onto the marble landmark and pinched the Queen's hand.

The hand was reinstated on the statue five years ago as part of a restoration programme. It had been missing for years before that.

Mrs Holland said: "It is so sad, and seems to me a great tragedy people have to attack something which has been there for years and is part of our heritage.

"They are just mindless idiots who leave the rest of us to pick up the bill.

"I will be talking to the officers to see what repairs can be carried out to ensure the statute is restored.

"I am sure it is covered by insurance, but obviously I will have to check exactly what has happened and how long it will take to repair the damage."

The marble statue which was presented to the town by mayor Bernard Tolhurst in 1897, the year of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

Queen Victoria's hand has pointed out to sea from the cliffs since the 1970s after the statue was moved from the top of Pier Hill.

At Pier Hill, many local people said the Queen pointed at the men's toilets.

Only a broken stump with a metal rod now points out across the estuary.