'Smash it, lose it:' Doncaster park volunteers in stark warning after string of vandal attacks

Facilities and play equipment at Sandall Park have been smashed during the school summer holidays – and volunteer bosses have said because of costs invovled, damaged items will not be replaced.

It comes after the park's adventure playground was set on fire as well as graffiti attacks and litter bins being set alight.

A spokesman for Friends of Sandall Park, the group which looks after the park, said: “We've certainly had a bit of a targeting this summer holiday.

“On Saturday into Sunday, yobs attacked the wooden adventure play area again.

“The big knotted rope has been attacked several times by being burnt, but now it's destroyed. They've burnt the rope and severed the wires, releasing it from it's moorings so it was swinging loose and has had to be removed as it was too dangerous.

“So "yobs" - the money that's been spent on providing equipment for YOU to play on - has been removed. We have an agreement with all the funding that we apply for that if it gets damaged, it is taken out of service and money not wasted on repairing it.”

A camera at the park has also been smashed to ‘smithereens’ and containers used for storing football equipment were also daubed with graffiti while the park’s toilet block was also attacked by vandals.

The statement added: “We've had youngsters no more than 13 years old setting fire to rubbish bins. Members of the public extinguished them before they got out of hand.

“Today our volunteers discovered that the large toilet roll dispenser in the gents has been broken open and can't be repaired. It will be removed.”

“All these things take volunteer and council time up that shouldn't have to be wasted making things good, and it costs us and the council money to repair.

“Morale for our volunteers? Always takes a nosedive, and takes some recovering. Morale is priceless.

“In the greater scheme of things these aren't major incidents but they are unnecessary.”

Anyone wishing to report anti social behaviour can call South Yorkshire Police on 101 or can phone the Neighbourhood Response Team on (01302) 341628 after 7pm and 385153 during the day.