A children's adventure playground has been targeted for the second time in just three weeks by vandals.

Eccleshill Adventure Playground, which has suffered regular arson attacks and damaged equipment since it opened last August, has been hit by thugs again.

In the latest incident, which happened over the Easter bank holiday weekend, one of the playground's main features, a 30ft tall communal swing, was vandalised beyond repair.

And the yobs have smashed about £600 worth of new slates, which were bought to replace the ones smashed on the staff room roof three weeks ago.

The playground, off Harrogate Road in Bradford, was funded by Bradford Council's early years and childcare service and is run by volunteers.

A spokesman who works at the playground said repairs to the site would go into thousands of pounds as the giant swing was specially made by a firm in London.

This figure will be added to the £4,000 estimated damage cost from the last wrecking spree.

Gary Hodgson, who is one of the volunteers helping to build the playground, said he was totally devastated by the latest damage.

Mr Hodgson, of Thackeray Road, Ravenscliffe, said on Sunday night the slates had been smashed in the yard and then on Monday night the decking and the giant swing were destroyed.

"I just can't believe it, it makes you feel like giving up. In fact one of the other volunteers has resigned today because he feels so disheartened."

Coun Dorothy Wallace (Lib Dem, Eccleshill) said the playground was something which was special, not just to the residents of Eccleshill but to the whole of Bradford north.

She said: "This group, like many other voluntary groups, has struggled for money but then, just when they thought they had turned a corner, they were hit with arson and vandalism and now they've got to start from scratch again.

"It seems such a pity and a waste of hard work."

Coun Wallace said they have been plagued with vandals in Hazelcroft, Victoria Road and Moorside Road.

"How do you solve the problem? The kids say they have nothing to do, but they are destroying the things which we provide for them."

Mr Hodgson appealed to building firms to give materials or time to help the volunteers continue with the work. Anyone interested should contact him on 07979 093 898.

Police are investigating the incident as criminal damage. Anyone with information about it should contact the Bradford North help desk on (01274) 376259 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.