Teenagers told veteran ex-serviceman:”You should have died in the war” - in a shameful tirade of abuse outside a Clipstone restaurant

NMAC Rumbles Cafe & Playground Vandalised. Alan Peacock with the swings which have been vandalised

Ex-servicemen from the HMS Ganges Association were walking to a dinner to commemorate the 210th anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar at Rumbles Cafe at Clipstone when the youths shouted insults at them.

Head chef at Rumbles Zenon Hos told Chad: “Our guests were verbally abused by this group, one shouted “Hand over your medals you...... fossil” another was told: “You should have died in the war you old..... “ .

“They were all in their uniforms with their medals on display.

“One of them was a Second World War veteran and the others from the Falklands campaign. They have fought for Queen and Country and to be told to drop dead is just disgusting.”

“We called the police and they came straight away and moved them on.”

David Poyser of HMS Ganges Association Mansfield said: “There were some kids riding around on bikes and scooters and our lot were wearing medals and black ties. They were just being cheeky. I think our members were more worried about their cars than the insults. The police car came down and the officers escorted them out.”

Teen gangs have also been blamed for a vandalism spree which has cause thousands of pounds worth of damage to the cafe and a nearby playground over recent months.

Zenon Hos added: “We are a charity and we rely on donations and what we make over the counter.

“We used £1,000 we have raised to buy five benches and they have been completely smashed up.

“The children’s play area was refurbished just before the summer holidays.

“It is just being smashed up at night, two toddlers’ swings have been removed and broken up.

“Wooden railings have been smashed up, the zip wire has been stretched out and the Fireman’s Pole has been ripped out of the ground.

“The seesaw has been damaged and two of the four seats there.”

A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: “An incident of anti-social behaviour was reported to us on Friday October 16 at around 6.30pm.

Officers were called to Vicar Water Country Park, where they moved the group on.

Anyone with any further information regarding the incident should call Nottinghamshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 723 of 16 October.

The police were unable to confirm if the vandalism and abusive behaviour were the work of the same culprits.