Vandals burn toys and kill fish in playgroup wrecking spree

Published on Wednesday 27 May 2009 09:38

VANDALS have gone on a wrecking spree at a children's playgroup, causing thousands of pounds worth of damage, setting fire to toys and even killing pet fish.

The Phoenix Club on Harrison Place, which is also home to a drop-in centre for the disabled, was targeted by a group of youths in the early hours of yesterday morning.

As well as setting fire to toys, furniture and appliances, the vandals smashed windows and glass, smeared paint over the walls, and stole petty cash. Human excrement was left on the floor and the pet fish were found dead after their tank was smashed.

Police are now hunting three male youths seen in the area.

Play leader Tor Bretherton said: "The damage was horrendous. Anything that wasn't burnt or smashed up has been left completely black with smoke.

"Imagine setting fire to children's toys – it's just ridiculous."

The club is home to the daily Harrison Playgroup and a Friday disabled drop-in centre, and also provides an occasional meeting place for the Shandon Local Food Initiative and adult dance classes.

The club's owner Jake Milligan, 69, who has run the premises for the last two decades, has been left picking up the pieces.

He said: "I got a phone call at about 4:50am saying that the club was on fire, and when I got there I was disgusted by the damage.

"They'd smashed every pane of glass in the club, including thick reinforced glass on the internal doors, which is fortified with wire and would have taken a lot of force to smash.

"I'm retired now and I only run this club as a hobby.

"The playgroup comes in every morning and we run the disabled drop-in on a Friday, and aside from that we have a few evening dance classes which just about allows me to break even.

"I reckon the damage will cost up to 3,000 to fix, but we've been hit by vandals in the past and we've always managed to tidy up and carry on, so hopefully we'll be able to get the club up and running again soon."

Around 24 children attend the playgroup each morning, and parents received an early-morning call saying their children would not be able to attend yesterday morning.

Many of the parents then turned up with buckets and cleaning materials to help clear up the mess.

Locals say vandalism is on the rise in the Harrison Park area, with a number of homes having their windows smashed in recent weeks.

Fire crews were first called to the Phoenix Club at around 4am and tackled multiple minor blazes.

A police spokesman said: "Police responded to reports of a fire at a youth club in Harrison Gardens at around 4:20am this morning.

"Extensive damage was caused to the building. However, no-one was injured. Inquiries are now ongoing to trace those responsible. Police are particularly keen to speak to three male youths who were believed to be in the area at the time."

Police also confirmed that they were investigating a number of other antisocial behaviour-related incidents in the Harrison Park area in recent weeks.