Vandals destroy playground in 'sickening' blaze

VANDALS have destroyed £10,000 worth of playground equipment at a city primary school which was bought after years of fundraising by parents.

Fire-raisers struck in the latest of a series of "sickening" attacks at St John Vianney Primary in the Inch, which has already left the school with a vandalism repair bill of more than 36,000 in the past five years.

Police are hunting two suspects who were seen near the school at around 8:30pm on Sunday.

Fire crews were called out to extinguish the timber climbing frame, which has been completely ruined, while several windows in the nursery building were also damaged by the heat.

Parents discovered the damage yesterday morning, with some children in tears.

The youngsters were kept inside during play times yesterday. Tracy Latimer, parent council member, said: "The playground was funded by parents and through a charity.

"We are currently raising funds to buy equipment for the other playground but that sticks in our throat now. What's the point in buying this stuff if people are going to set fire to it?

"The children can't get out to play because everything is burnt out, even the grass. Parents have been texting me about it and saying that they could've cried when they saw the damage.

"It's very sickening and it feels like whoever is doing this has a vendetta against us."

The Evening News revealed earlier this year that St John Vianney has been the worst-hit primary school for vandal attacks in the past five years, having been struck 84 times up to November last year.

Mrs Latimer said the nursery playground area was targeted as recently as February when benches were set on fire and glass bottles were smashed.

The parent council has been campaigning for years to have a security fence erected, but has been repeatedly told there is no money to do so.

Parent Donna Kellacher said: "A lot of time, effort and money has been put into the project to obtain the playground equipment and it has now all been in vain, which is soul-destroying."

Police are currently examining CCTV footage to try to identify the two suspects.

Inspector Alun Williams said: "This was a senseless act of vandalism which has destroyed a valued resource.

"We are currently following positive lines of inquiry, however, we would still appeal to anyone with any information to contact us immediately."

A city council spokesman said: "CCTV is now operating at the school and we plan to erect a fence around the site when funding becomes available."