A LEADING children's playground safety campaigner has hit out at the vandals who have damaged new play equipment in Otley's Wharfemeadows Park.

Cookridge man Ian Burks, who runs the national Keep Our Children Safe Campaign, said it was a disgrace that vandals had forced the removal of the new swings which were installed alongside other equipment a matter of weeks ago.

Mr Burks said: "I cannot believe that vandals are already doing their dirty work. These people make me thoroughly sick when so much effort and time is put in by many people for the benefit of the community.

"To carry out wanton destruction for no purpose whatsoever is disgusting.

"I believe that a campaign against vandals would be a great idea with a view to persuading local people to help and look after their play area."

As reported last week, concrete foundations on the swings were tampered with while it was still setting and council chiefs have said that it will be the end of the month before the swings are back in use.

l The Wharfedale Observer last year teamed up with Mr Burks in a Play It Safe campaign to get safer surfacing put into all public play areas in Wharfedale and Aireborough.