Vandals damage children’s playground during a weekend of troubles at parks in the Harborough area

Vandals who damaged a children’s playground in a popular Market Harborough park have been branded “mindless and wilful” by Harborough council.

The local authority hit out after the offenders targeted a climbing frame in the well-used playground in Welland Park at the weekend.

The attack is believed to have been carried out on Saturday night or in the early hours of Sunday.

A Harborough council spokesman said: “This is mindless and wilful destruction to play equipment at a time when people are being encouraged to enjoy the fresh air and the outdoors.

“We have met with police on site this morning and made the equipment safe to use.”

He added: “The damaged equipment will need to be replaced but this may take a number of weeks.

“We appeal to anyone with information about this incident to contact police.”

A mum told the Harborough Mail at Welland Park today: “This is absolutely disgusting.

“I couldn’t believe it when I arrived with my little one this morning and saw the climbing equipment had been attacked.”

She added: “As you can see, the playground is really busy with mums and dads, grandparents and children all out in the sunshine.

“The kids love it here.

“What do these morons get out of attacking and damaging children’s playgrounds?”

The incident comes as more trouble occurred at parks in both Market Harborough and Kibworth over the weekend.

Police said they were repeatedly forced to tackle anti-social behaviour by large groups of youths as well as under-age drinking.

Officers warned that the time-consuming call-outs risks stopping them responding to more serious calls.

Harborough police said on Saturday morning: “Last night multiple officers spent time between parks in Harborough and Kibworth.

“It is really disappointing and preventable and wastes our time.

“This would have affected our attendance to incidents like domestics and burglaries in progress.

“Groups dispersed when we arrived.”

Borough Alliance Football Club had to pick up smashed glass bottles from their pitches before hundreds of youngsters could start training at the grassroots outfit at Symington’s Recreation Ground on Saturday morning.

Broken glass also had to be cleared from the play area at Smeeton Road Recreation Ground in Kibworth Beauchamp.

And fencing was damaged at a care home on nearby Fleckney Road.