VANDALS have struck again in one of Skipton's playgrounds, damaging over £2,000 worth of new equipment.

Skipton Town Council, which has paid for repairs time and time again at Middletown Playground, has said it might not get any more new equipment unless youngsters can show more respect.

In the most recent attack vandals destroyed the aerial runway, which has already been repaired several times, and bent the rugby posts installed in the autumn.

Council clerk Andrea Adams said the council had received lots of letters from youngsters asking for the goal posts, but they had not been looked after.

She also received letters from local residents wanting to know why more was not being done to improve the play equipment and clean up the litter.

But Mrs Adams said councillors were questioning whether it was worth putting time, effort and money into the playground because each time it was destroyed.

"It's not that the council doesn't want to put in new equipment but we have not got an infinite amount of money in a place where vandalism is so persistent."

She said money used to repair the damage could have been spent on new play equipment. And she added that a groundsman had been sent to the playground to clean up the litter, only to return later to find rubbish strewn all over again.

"If people want us to do things up there then they have to be a bit more responsible," said Mrs Adams.

She added that litter and dog bins had been put in the area, but they were soon found crushed or thrown on the ground.

Local resident Joanne Rushton was appalled by the litter on the recreation ground. She said the bins that used to be there were too small and not emptied often enough, but now the bins had been removed the situation was worse than ever.

"With it being such a mess I think it attracts messy people," said Mrs Rushton.

She was pleased to hear a groundsman was being employed, as she hoped he would get rid of things like glass and pornographic material which had been found under the play equipment. She thought the play area was not safe for young children and was being taken over by youths during the evenings.

Mrs Rushton added that one dog bin at the top of Upper Sackville Street was not enough but said bags to collect dog mess were available from the nearby post office.

The most recent vandalism incident has been reported to the police.