An outdoor gym facility in Cramlington has been vandalised just two days after it was installed.
After investing £15,000 to provide the gym equipment to improve local facilities for youngsters, Cramlington Town Council was left outraged and disappointed by the destructive crime.
Now the council is appealing to the community to join them in taking a stand against the vandals by ensuring they are caught and prosecuted for what they have done.
Cramlington Town Council’s Operations Manager, Daryl Wood said: “The council is hugely disappointed to see what happened just a few hours after the installation work was completed.
“Apparently, a broken golf club was used to damage the new fixtures and the resulting marks are clearly visible.
“We have pledged our commitment to improving the facilities for youngsters across the town and then this happens.
"CCTV footage is currently being examined and we will fully support the prosecution of those responsible.”
Daryl asks any residents who are witnesses to any ongoing vandalism to ring the police on 101 and for any information about this incident to quote the reference 488 18042021.
The new gym equipment based at Horton Park was set up free of charge to local residents to help improve facilities for young people.
Town Clerk Bob Baker added “Money spent repairing vandalism is less money we have to invest in new facilities for all our youngsters.
“I appreciate that teenagers have a degree of independence, but I would like to ask parents – do you know that your child wasn’t involved? Maybe have a conversation with your children about the futility of vandalism.
“We all want Cramlington to be the best place to live - don’t we?"
A spokeswoman from Northumbria Police said: "Police received a report on Wednesday, April 21, of criminal damage at North Burn Park in Cramlington
"The incident is believed to have happened between Saturday, April 17 and midnight on Sunday, April 18 where outdoor equipment has been damaged.
"Enquiries are in the very early stages and are ongoing."
