Police are hunting vandals who caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage to a playpark in Perth.
Equipment in Letham has been deliberately damaged and the soft safety surfacing ripped up.
Councillor John Flynn is appealing for people to help catch the culprits responsible for the “dreadful” vandalism which happened at the end of last week.
“I have been advised that it will cost £20,000 to replace the surface on the Rannoch Road play area.
“It costs a lot of money to provide these playparks and it is not easy to find the funding to replace them when this happens,” said Mr Flynn.
“There are so many communities in Perth and Kinross which want playparks and it isn’t fair that money is being spent in one area when people can’t look after them.”
Mr Flynn is hoping the community hold the key to catching the vandals and ensuring that there is no further damage.
“This play area is overlooked by houses which are now denied a safe play area for their children,” he said. “Someone must have seen something.”
He said that the Letham community wardens had been alerted to the vandalism in the hope of preventing further damage.
The Rannoch Road playpark is not the only one to have been hit over the holidays, with equipment in the Struan Road play area damaged and removed.
Elsewhere in Perth a basket swing has also been removed from the North Inch to ascertain whether damage is due to vandalism or not.
Earlier this year the swing was set on fire and cost £3,660 to repair.
The council said their Community Greenspace Team worked hard to maintain and improve parks and play spaces for all to enjoy.
“However, thanks to the thoughtless actions of a few, the repairs required to the surface of the park are significant,” said a council spokesperson.
“We would urge any residents who notice damage or vandalism to equipment at any of the region’s playparks to either report it to Police Scotland or alternatively report it on the council’s website www.pkc.gov.uk or telephone the council’s customer service centre on 01738 476476 with the location of the play area, details of the damaged or vandalised play equipment and when you noticed the damage had happened.”
A spokesperson for Police Scotland Tayside Division said they were also aware of the latest vandalism.
“Anyone who may have any information in relation to these incidents is asked to call Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively contact the charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111,” said the police.