A NEW play area due to be opened to the public has already been vandalised.

Now, Darlington Borough Council is to rethink its plans for the Eastbourne and Lascelles area of town, following the attack at the weekend.

Vandals pushed through security fencing to gain access to the £40,000 equipment, which was in the process of being installed in an area between Eastbourne Park and Lascelles Park.

Graffiti was daubed over the equipment and a new shelter was damaged.

Work was almost completed on the play area, which was due to open in the next two weeks.

The council will now be removing the equipment and will reconsider its options, in consultation with residents, on the siting of the play area.

The area was to be the fourth to be installed as part of Darlington council's outdoor play strategy, which will see 35 areas transformed across the borough over the next seven years at a cost of £600,000.

Councillor John Williams, leader of Darlington council, said: "It is sickening that the mindless acts of a few people have spoiled things for the many young people and children who, no doubt, had been waiting in eager anticipation for the opening of the new area.

"This is, however, a temporary setback and we will be working hard to look at an alternative site for the equipment.

The council said the views and residents were taken into account to ensure that the equipment and its position would serve the needs of those using it.

However, one mother said the council had already been told by Eastbourne Residents' Association that the site would be vulnerable to attacks by vandals.

She said: "All the residents who attended meetings warned the council that this would happen unless they put something like CCTV cameras there."

She said high security fencing had been put around the nearby bowling green and security cameras had been installed at other play areas in the borough.

She said: "I'm not very happy about this and a lot of the residents are not either.

"It's very disappointing because I told my children that as soon as it's finished they would be able to play on it. Now they can't."