Animals smeared with ketchup by arsonists at city farm

Supporters fundraising for private security patrols

The park, which has more than 100 animals, is one of the Europe's biggest city farms (Getty Images)

Arsonists have been targeting a city farm at night and smearing pigs with ketchup.

The troublemakers have started fires for three nights running at Mudchute Park and Farm in east London, which is a charity that cares for more than 100 animals including llamas, goats and horses.

Workers at the park, which is one of Europe’s biggest city farms, said the pigs were left distressed and had to be cleaned afterwards because of the risk of spreading coronavirus.

The attackers – thought to be children – went into areas of the farm that were closed off. Fences and the rest of area also needed disinfecting to prevent contamination.

Vandalism is feared to have risen during the coronavirus restrictions because children cannot meet indoors in groups.

Tom Davis, the farm manager, wrote on Facebook: “I find this extremely disheartening as we as an organisation try our best to keep the park and farm there for people to enjoy.  

“What’s worse is in the current climate with staff still furloughed, a smaller staff team and an unsure financial future, we have to deal with this blatant lack of respect for the farm and what we do.”

The farm, on the Isle of Dogs near Canary Wharf, is also home to rare animal breeds on its 32 acres, and organises children’s educational projects. But it is a public right of way, meaning it is open around the clock.

The fires were spotted by a volunteer and dealt with before they caused serious damage.  

Supporters and neighbours have donated money to fund security guards to patrol the farm at night, with an online fundraising drive.  

Lucy Brown, who lives nearby and who started the fundraising, said the farm was loved by local residents.  

“Police were told but are very stretched in east London. It’s such a fantastic place – without the farm most inner-city kids here would have no contact with sheep, horses, llamas and nature,” she said.

“The worry is that after smearing ketchup on animals, these people will become emboldened and do worse things.”

She said security firms she had spoken to had reported a rise in antisocial behaviour by schoolchildren during the pandemic.

Several years ago, attackers beat some of the animals at the park, she said.

Andrew Wood, a local councillor, said: “We have to assume this is teenagers thinking they are cool or doing it for a dare.

“We do have issues with youths around the docksides to the west and a recent series of stabbings on the Isle of Dogs but we think that was drug- or gang-related and this is different I think. The local police promised they would do some evening patrols.”