A community library with free books for kids and families has been destroyed in a suspected arson attack.
The book exchange, called the 'little free book library', was set alight in Mount Pleasant, Swansea, at around 7.30am on Friday, July 3.
Those involved in the "much-loved" community project said they had been left "absolutely devastated" with many local residents airing their outrage at the destruction on social media.
Swansea University student Amelia Savage, 19, who lives close to where the library was situated in Primrose Hill, said: "I was absolutely devastated. I was going on my morning walk and I initially smelled smoke and then saw the flames.
"I ran over to see our community book library, made and used by everyone in Mount Pleasant, was in flames.
"There are lots of questions that need answering in term of why the person committed such a careless act."
The library was set up during the coronavirus lockdown with the aim of allowing Mount Pleasant residents, particularly those with young children, to share books with each other.
"I quickly rang the fire service and they came and left within 15 minutes, all that was left was the ashes and sadness of a much-loved community project," Amelia added.
There are plans for the library to be replaced with a metal cabinet or similar "to avoid it being flammable."
Vandals released the handbrake on a car in Swansea's steepest street in a spree of damage:
A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said: "We received a report of a fire causing damage to an item in a garden in Primrose Hill which happened at about 7.30am on July 3. We would ask anyone with information to contact 101 quoting occurrence 2000235003."
A spokesman for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "On Friday, 03/07/20 at 07:31am, firefighters from Swansea Central attended a deliberately lit fire in Primrose Hill, Mount Pleasant, Swansea.
"The fire involved a cupboard outside a premises.
"Firefighters extinguished the fire using a hose reel jet and left the incident at 07:41am."
