Vandals damage new-look Shifnal play area

Vandals have badly damaged new equipment costing thousands of pounds before a £73,000 makeover at a Shropshire playing field has even been completed.

Play equipment and a youth shelter were targeted by the thugs at playing fields in Wheatfield Drive in Shifnal.

The teenagers' shelter has been daubed with graffiti and its push-button solar-powered radio has been broken.

Structural damage had also been caused to the shelter by the vandals removing metal bolts and the surrounding area has also been littered with broken glass.

Shifnal mayor Councillor Les Jones said he was disappointed that the vandalism had been carried out after Lottery funding was awarded for the makeover.

"It's very frustrating but you cannot let the vandals beat you. We will have to negotiate the cost of putting things right because it has not officially been handed over yet," he said.

"We just have to carry on regardless. We really need parents to explain to children that every time they damage something like this, the money to repair it is coming out of their pockets."

There has also been problems with broken glass being left on football fields and police and Community Support Officers have increased their patrols in a bid to crack down on the problem, Councillor Jones added.