A concerned Edinburgh mum is scared to let her kids out as their local play park next to a primary school has been targeted by firebugs. The parent hit out at the reckless vandals who lit bins and benches in Craigentinny Park, next to Craingentinny Primary School, on Friday, October 7.
Shocking images show the children's play area burnt out, with debris lying on the ground. Litter has been left all around the area and the black rubbish bin has been set alight, reports Edinburgh Live.
Now local residents have aired their concerns at the selfish behaviour and urged anyone who witnesses similar incidents to report it to the city council or Police Scotland.
The mum, who does not wish to be named, said: "The youths have been basically ruling the streets you could say. Running about with lighter fluid, paper, hairspray and deodorants. They give no thoughts to anyone around, and if approached they just give backchat.
"They have destroyed items in our local community garden, set fires in the new nursery being built, along with starting many fires in the park. The small children in the area call the tree area in the park 'the forest', these events happen while the children are in the play park.
"These youths know the police can do anything to them, they seem to thrive on the fire brigade wasting their services and people trying to stop them. If they are like this at around 11/12 years old it's really frightening to think what will happen when they grow up."
One local resident said: "It really p***** me off seeing this, is nothing sacred anymore, just what do these kids get out of doing this."
Another said: "What the f*** that's bad like the younger kids can't have anything," while one added: "Shocking."
Scottish Green Party councillor for the Craigentinny and Duddingston ward, Alex Staniforth said: "A small group of vandals have been setting fires in the area for some time and both local councillors and the community council have made the situation known to the police.
"In the long term we need to address the social situations which lead to this kind of behaviour but in the short term I hope they can be caught and stopped."
You can find support and report anti-social behaviour to Edinburgh City Council here.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here.
READ NEXT:
-
Scots child killer attacked prison officer over wait for breakfast cereal
-
Final picture of evil serial killer Peter Tobin shows monster chained to hospital bed
-
Scots lawyer caught with cannabis in court avoids being struck off
-
Was Peter Tobin Bible John? Killer denied Glasgow murders to prison pal
-
Teen driver who killed biker in 'unusual circumstances' walks free from court
