Youths have trashed a children’s playground - emptying a wheelie bin full of cans and setting it alight.
Police and firefighters rushed to a playground in Breightmet after youths were seen at the park near Romiley Crescent late on Saturday night.
Youths were seen emptying the contents of a wheelie bin onto the grass, before dragging it onto the children’s playground.
The youths were then seen setting the bin on fire and reported to the police.
The youths’ anti-social behaviour could put their parents’ tenancies at risk if the police take action.
Residents say acts of ‘vandalism and arson’ like this are ‘spoiling the area’.
Breightmet councillor Adele Warren said: “It is extremely disappointing to see vandalism and arson like this.
“The park is well used but has suffered with incidents like this on multiple occasions which spoils the area being used by other children.”
Councillors have pledged to refurbish the park as part of their long-term plans for Breightmet, but vandalism like this makes it difficult.
“The ward councillors have agreed to refurbish the park because it is so well used but this is one off funding,” said Coun Warren.
“Although we want to improve the park, incidents like this spoil it for everybody else.”
The local leader says that ‘the whole community needs to come together’ to make sure teenagers stay on the right path.
Coun Warren said: “We put extra funding into youth clubs in the area, the police also perform antisocial behaviour checks of the area regularly and council outreach teams engage with youths to try and get them involved in more positive behaviour.
“Police and the council community safety team work closely with Bolton at Home and youths identified in antisocial behaviour can be placed on the behaviour pathway which means parents’ tenancies could be put at risk.
“Parents are ultimately responsible for where their children are and the whole community needs to come together and recognise that this behaviour is not acceptable or welcomed.”
