Vandals smeared a children's playground with mud, dug several holes and carved an offensive message into a nearby area of grass, a council in Cumbria has said. Wigton Town Council said its staff had now filled in a 6ft (1.8m) deep hole that appeared last weekend at Wigton Park's BMX track. An abusive message aimed at the local authority was carved into an area of grass on Tuesday, while several pieces of equipment in the children's playground were covered in mud. Cumbria Police said it had received a report of criminal damage between 21 and 24 June, which included fences being knocked down and holes being dug. Wigton Park, located on the Greenacres housing estate, was established in 1923 as a public recreation space. The council said there had been a BMX track there since the 1980s. Over the weekend of 21 and 22 June, the council said a series of holes had appeared - including the deep one - while parts of a fence were removed. The council said this "raised serious health and safety concerns" so the hole was filled in on Monday. Along with the damage to the playground, which happened on Tuesday night, the council said there was "evidence of trees being pulled out and knocked over in nearby Phoenix Park". Follow BBC Cumbria onX,Facebook,NextdoorandInstagram.
Playground vandals carve abusive message in grass
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Vandalism at Wigton Playground Results in Damage and Safety Concerns"
Bbc News
8.1
TruthLens AI Summary
Vandals have caused significant damage to a children's playground in Wigton, Cumbria, by smearing mud on equipment, digging holes, and carving an offensive message into the grass. According to the Wigton Town Council, the vandalism occurred over the weekend of June 21-22, with staff discovering a 6ft deep hole at the BMX track and several pieces of playground equipment covered in mud. The council reported that the vandalism included the removal of parts of the fence, which raised serious health and safety concerns. In response, the council took immediate action to fill in the hole on Monday to prevent any accidents. The incident has prompted a report of criminal damage to be filed with Cumbria Police, who are investigating the matter after receiving reports of the damage occurring between June 21 and June 24.
In addition to the damage at the playground, the council noted that there was evidence of trees being uprooted and knocked over in the nearby Phoenix Park. Wigton Park, established in 1923 as a public recreation area, has had a BMX track since the 1980s, making it a long-standing facility for community use. The recent acts of vandalism not only undermine the safety and enjoyment of the park for local families but also reflect a broader issue of community respect for public spaces. The council has urged the public to report any further incidents of vandalism and to help maintain the integrity of their local parks.
TruthLens AI Analysis
You need to be a member to generate the AI analysis for this article.
Log In to Generate AnalysisNot a member yet? Register for free.