VANDALS have targeted a viewing platform causing repair work to be delayed, the council has said.

Survey monitoring equipment was put in place last month by the Vale council to help identify the cause of cracks to the Penarth Head viewing platform which appeared towards the end of 2016.

Now the Vale say the equipment has been tampered with by vandals, delaying work to address the problem.

The council received grant assistance from Welsh Government over several years to provide and promote the Wales Coast Path.

In 2011, part of a two year grant from the government was used for a survey and design of the viewing platform.

The platform was developed by the council in response to the work carried out by the Penarth Tourism and Visitor Association (PTVA) and after the local group requested a structure be put in place to celebrate the opening of the Wales Coastal Path.

The design is based on the Wales Coast Path logo with the "shell" shape being used to create a seating area.

It offers views across the Bristol Channel and Penarth Pier.

Construction was completed and the platform was opened to the public in 2015.

Work to add interpretation panels and other finishing touches was planned for 2016/17.

But in late 2016 small cracks developed in the walls of the structure and so surveying work was commissioned to identify the cause.

Additional monitoring equipment will now be put in place and secured.

The results of the now delayed surveying are expected in February, assuming no further vandalism and tampering of the equipment takes place.