VANDAL attacks on playgrounds in Blackburn have been branded a ‘tragedy’ for youngsters after four were permanently shut because the council cannot afford to repair them.

The closures have prompted community leaders to warn that damage to equipment by thugs is putting the future of open spaces for the borough’s young under threat.

Coun Jim Smith, borough environment chief, and Coun Damian Talbot, Blackburn with Darwen leisure boss, said the council no longer had the cash to keep pace with the growing tide of playground vandalism and struggled to keep derelict play areas secure.

They spoke out after residents complained about the ‘disgusting’ state of the closed Bank Top playground in Nab Lane.

Neighbours said they were alarmed that children and teenagers were climbing over fences and locked security gates to gain access to its damaged equipment.

Last month, playgrounds in Griffin Park and East Street Park, both in the Mill Hill ward, had to be shut after vandals rendered them unsafe.

And earlier this year the Burnley Road play area in Whitebirk had to be close because of vandal damage.

Bank top residents said they were furious at the state of the playground in Nab Lane, which was littered with used condoms, syringes, beer cans and vodka bottles.

The council padlocked the gates after the closure in January but this has failed to stop night-time anti-social behaviour.

James Place, of Heyhurst Road, said: “You wouldn’t believe the things I’ve seen. I’ve seen people having sex right outside of my house. There’s fights, fires, motorbikes racing around.”

Mr Place, aged 76, who installed his own security cameras, said “There’s been a padlock on the gate for about six months but children can easily climb over the fence. Sometimes their parents lift them over because there’s nowhere else for them to play.

“We’ve found condoms and syringes and told the police and council about it. They tell you not to touch them but they don’t come and move them.

“You feel like you should pick the syringe up when you know kiddies are going to be playing there.”

Another Bank Top resident said: “My boy is seven and he says to me, ‘I wish they’d open the park, Dad’. He’s desperate for somewhere to play.

“There’s just nothing for him to do round here and all this equipment is sitting here unused. Teenagers and drunks go on it at night and wreck it but I suppose that’s because they have nowhere to go either.”

Coun Smith said: “The closure of Bank Top play area is due to a series of disgusting acts of vandalism.

“This is an absolute tragedy.

“We spend a lot of money on equipment, as we did in Griffin Park, after a campaign by residents, and then mindless thugs come and vandalise it.

“Because of government cuts we don’t have the money to replace the equipment. Then we have to pay to remove the wrecked stuff and try and keep the unsafe play area secure.

“It’s very difficult to stop older children climbing into the unsafe areas.

"It’s a great shame to see that the selfish actions of a few have prevented parents and their young children enjoying the play area.

“I think open play areas where kids can play football, cricket and ride their bikes without equipment may have to be the future.”

Coun Smith encouraged residents to join the ‘Your Call Campaign’ which urges residents to clean up after acts of vandalism.

Coun Talbot said: “This is tragic. This vandalism is happening more often.

“We have about 30 playgrounds in the borough including 18 big ones. We can’t watch them all the time.

“We want to encourage young children to play in the open air. They want to. Their parents love it.

“Then this sort of thing happens.

“We don’t have the money to constantly replace and repair equipment. It’s a tragedy.”