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Fort damaged after '40 golf balls hit into walls'

Alice Cunningham
BBC News, Suffolk
Getty Images The entrance into Landguard Fort. A person walks into the entrance of the stone building.Getty Images
The exterior of Landguard Fort, pictured here in 2018, was damaged after someone hit golf balls into it

A historic fort has been damaged after 40 golf balls were hit into its walls, according to police.

Landguard Fort in Felixstowe, Suffolk, which dates from the 18th Century suffered mortar damage to its outer wall after the golf balls were hit from a nearby grass mound.

Other balls were hit over its wall into the inner parade area.

Suffolk Police believes the incident took place between Monday at 17:00 GMT and Tuesday at 09:00 and is appealing for witnesses.

Getty Images A view of the inner circular shaped parade and courtyard area of the Fort. Windows overlook the area and people can be seen walking around an upper level.Getty Images
Some balls had managed to fly into the inner area of the fort

The damage caused is an offence under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

Over the centuries there have been a number of forts on the site and they played a vital role in the defence of the east coast.

The last seaborne invasion of England happened here in 1667, when the Dutch attacked.

The current fort dates back to the 18th Century and was modified in the 19th Century.

The site was manned during both world wars, before it was disarmed and closed in 1956.

It is open to visitors at certain points of the year.

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