Pianos that invited people to play them survived the mean streets of Sao Paulo, but it would seem Bristol was a step too far.

On Friday, 16 pianos were installed in public places across Bristol as part of a month-long art project to bring music to the people.

But the one in Dame Emily Park, Bedminster, lasted less than 12 hours before it was vandalised, and before a note had even been played. Out of 130 around the world it is only the third to be destroyed and has now been removed.

The piano was wrecked on the 100th anniversary of the park's creation, which meant it could not be used as part of a celebration event at the weekend.

And to add insult to injury, the vandalism took place on the artist's doorstep.

As reported by the Bristol Evening Post, Luke Jerram took the Play Me I'm Yours Project to Sydney, Sao Paulo, London and Birmingham before he brought it to his hometown.

He came up with the idea in a Bedminster launderette and lives close to the park in Southville, so the vandalism is a particularly bitter blow.

He may even have spoken to the perpetrators before they did the deed, but an attempt to appeal to their better nature fell on deaf ears.

Mr Jerram, 34, said: "It's a real shame. I've installed 130 pianos in cities around the world and this is only the third that's been destroyed.

"It's the one nearest my home so it's really annoying.

"I went down there at 8pm on Thursday to lock it up, and a group of 10, 13-year-old boys were lighting fires in different parts of the park.

"They had already ripped off lettering from the piano, I just knew they were up to no good.

"I had a chat with them, I said it's for you guys as well, to play and to enjoy.

"I said, if it was their grandmother's would they trash it and they said 'Can we burn it?'

"I said no, it's going to be used by people for three weeks, and they said 'Can we burn it after three weeks?'.

"I went back the following morning and it was in pieces, they had bashed it with big chunks of breeze block.

"The mistake I made was not getting it painted by graffiti artists as soon as it arrived.

"I had arranged to have it done Saturday so they would have a sense of ownership."

The 16 pianos were bought in a job lot for around £100, but the Bedminster one will not be replaced.

The scheme is being funded as part of the celebrations to mark the £20-million regeneration of Colston Hall's foyer.

Mr Jerram said: "If we replace it, it will just become a cat-and-mouse game.

"The fun has been spoiled by maybe five kids. You would have had a couple of thousand people use it and enjoy it."

The Dame Emily Park Project community group had hoped to use the piano in events over the weekend to celebrate the park's centenary.

Treasurer Ben Barker, 70 of Southville, said: "I think the piano was a good idea and it's appalling someone broke it, I never even saw it.

"The park is used by people of all ages, 99 per cent of the time kids are fine."

The other pianos in Bristol would appear to have fared much better. Goodwill depending, they will be in place until September 28.