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A REWARD is being offered to help catch vandals who keep targeting a Bishop's Waltham play park.

The steel cable of the aerial runway at the Priory Park site has been cut. Police think it was attacked by someone using a powerful set of bolt cutters or substantial disc cutters.

The parish council, which maintains the site, says this is the fourth time this piece of equipment has been damaged, and now the authority is offering a reward for any information that leads to catching and convicting the culprits.

At a recent meeting of the parish council, chairman, Cllr David McLean, questioned what was going on in Bishop's Waltham, where someone could sink to such a level of unpleasantness.

Cllr McLean said: "I do not believe that the most dissatisfied of children could have carried out this act of vandalism, nor would they wantonly destroy the play equipment that they use for their own pleasure.

"I cannot understand how some people, who obviously love and enjoy living in Bishop's Waltham, can sink to such levels of unpleasantness."

Cllr McLean continued: "It is a sorry state of affairs for residents to know that living in our midst there is an evil, weak, closet ninja, destroying the fun of the local youngsters at Priory Park, and also capable of jeopardising future plans for the park.

"Had the cable on the aerial runway not been cut right through, and had only been partially cut and weakened, then the consequences of someone using the equipment could have been fatal."

The parish council was due to discuss plans for a new children's play area or a Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) at Priory Park, but that has been put on ice due to the recent vandalism.

The authority is offering a reward of £100 for any information concerning the vandalism to the aerial runway, or £200 for information leading to a conviction of the offenders.

Cllr Jean Hammerton, who represents Bishop's Waltham on Winchester City Council, said: "I do feel enormously sorry that this is happening.

"The parish council is working extremely hard for the youngsters and I feel saddened that they have to deal with this.

"One hopes someone will be successful in finding out who, and more importantly, why, someone is doing this. It cannot be very easy to be cutting through this equipment.

"It is a worry because it could be very dangerous."

Nobody from the police was available to comment at the time of going to press.

Anyone with information should contact Meon Valley police station in Bishop's Waltham, on 0845 0454545, or call the anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.

11:08am Thursday 17th April 2008

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