AN ARSON-hit play area, part of which was torched two weeks ago, has been struck again by vandals.

The large climbing frame in the children's playground in South Park, Darlington, was being fixed by council workers today after being damaged overnight.

It comes just two weeks after a large fire completely destroyed the smaller climbing frame at the park, leaving it a blackened shell.

The Northern Echo:

The burned-out pirate ship which was set on fire during half term is still cordoned off – after thousands of pounds’ worth of damage was caused – and a fundraising campaign has been set up by charity Groundwork North-East to replace it.

However, overnight from Sunday to Monday vandals damaged a different part of the playground, destroying the wooden floor on part of the larger climbing frame.

The area was cordoned off on Monday morning, but representatives from Darlington Borough Council had fixed it by the afternoon.

A council spokeswoman said: “Our anti-social behaviour team is working with the police regarding the recent incidents in South Park.

“Police patrols have been increased in the area and we are examining footage from the CCTV cameras in the park.

“In the latest incident which happened over the weekend, the large climbing frame in the play area was damaged but this has already been repaired.

“We are also looking at increasing the number of cameras in the park, especially around the play area and are having further meetings with the police to discuss the issue.”

Sergeant Mark Ralphs, of Darlington Police, said there had been dispersal orders in place in South Park to combat anti-social behaviour in recent months. They give police the power to disperse groups of people if they believe they may be causing a nuisance.

He said: “There was a dispersal order in place at the weekend in South Park to deal with the problem which led to the previous damage. We are also patrolling the park more. However, our neighbourhood teams can’t be in every part of the park 24 hours a day.

“There are cameras next to the play area and we are pursuing several lines of inquiry in relation to the previous damage.”

The pirate ship at South Park, which was damaged in the fire, remains cordoned off until it is replaced, and the child-friendly surface can be repaired.

Groundwork North East and Cumbria has raised £1,448 so far – six per cent of the £23,000 needed to replace the damaged pirate ship and surface.

Dozens of pledges of support were received including the Friends of South Park, Darlington Bondgate Round Table and Sherwoods Vauxhall.
Groundwork’s programme manager Lisa Locke is asking everyone to join the campaign to achieve the target straightaway. 

Firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control after it broke out at about 8pm on the Monday of half term.

Anyone with information about the fire should call Darlington Police on non-emergency number 101.