A CHILDREN’S play park was gutted by an early hours fire, causing the area to be cordoned off to families and youngsters.
Fire fighters from Westbourne were sent to the blaze at Alexandra Park in Parkstone at around 2.30am on Sunday.
The crew used one hose reel jet to extinguish the burning play equipment at the council-owned play park in Poole.
Police also attended and helped to keep people away from the area.
One extinguished and secured, crews stood down shortly before 4am and reopened the park – while keeping the damaged play area closed off.
The cause of the fire is currently unknown, however residents and community leaders have expressed concern it could be suspicious.
The area has been blighted by anti-social behaviour in recent years, with Alexandra Park one of the places to receive neighbourhood policing officers specifically tasked to patrol it as part of an effort named Operation Nova last year.
Cllr Millie Earl, who lives near the park, told the Daily Echo: “It’s not particularly usual to have this kind of incident happen, so having something so dramatic take place is quite concerning.
“I have friends and residents who have children that use the park, so it now not being usable is a real loss to Parkstone.
“Play equipment and parks are so important for healthy activities, socialising and being outdoors, so to take that away from families is a disgrace.”
At the scene on Sunday afternoon, various walkers and families found the park in its burnt state. One couple, visiting the park with their two children, said they “didn’t hear anything” when the incident happened.
The father said: “It’s disgraceful because it means the kids aren’t going to be able to play here now. A bunch of children come here after school and they won’t be able to do that now. Real shame.
“It’s a really nice park as it is and if [the council] can restore it to what it was then that would be great.”
The park had previously been refurbished in 2019, with new equipment being offered to youngsters.
Dorset Police said there were no injuries reported after the fire and that no arrests have been made.
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