A popular park in Sunderland was forced to close after mindless vandals set fire to the equipment causing "significant" damage.
Backhouse Park sustained extensive fire damage after vandals set a wheelie bin alight within the play area over the weekend. The fire damaged the safety surfacing and some of the play equipment which means they will have to be removed.
Sunderland City Council said the park was forced to close while this work is undertaken and said extra patrols by Neighbourhood Wardens are also being carried out to ensure the park is not being targeted by "unnecessary and needless actions".
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A spokesperson for Sunderland City Council said: "A wheelie bin had been set alight within the play area which has caused significant damaged to the safety surfacing and some of the play equipment, meaning this will have to be removed. The play park is now closed whilst this work is being undertaken.
"We are currently reviewing nearby CCTV to attempt to identify those responsible. Extra patrols by Neighbourhood Wardens are also being carried out in a bid to ensure the park is not being targeted by unnecessary and needless actions.
"If you know anything about this incident, please report it to our Antisocial Behaviour team via our online form https://orlo.uk/545e7 or by calling 0191 520 5550. You can also use the online form to report any other antisocial behaviour you have witnessed or are aware of in the city. Any dangerous activities should be reported to the police by calling 101."
St Michael's ward councillor Lyall Reed said: "Just recently many volunteers, including myself, were out there painting the fence and working to improve the children's play park. And now after this damage we are back to square one.
"This senseless fire damage, done by thoughtless vandals, has made the play park unusable for children which is so tragic for our local community.
"We, as local councillors, arranged for the installation of a CCTV camera for this very reason and the police are now reviewing that footage in their investigation".
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Shortly before 4pm on Monday, October 24, police received a third-party report that the equipment in Backhouse Park on Ryhope Park had been damaged.
"It was reported that a group of young people had been in the park where they set fire to some of the equipment before leaving the area. No-one was injured and enquiries remain ongoing.
"Anyone with information should contact police using the 'tell us something' page on our website quoting log NP-20221024-0712."
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