WARD Councillors Richard Ferry and Carole Kavanagh have hit out at vandals who set fire to a park bench in the childrens play area in Haresfinch Park on Wednesday, August 23.

A disgusted Councillor Kavanagh, who campaigned for the play area facilities, said: "It is a great shame that this kind of mindless vandalism happens. It is a further, needless load on the council's maintenance and repair budget."

Councillor Ferry added: "This not only costs everybody in the town money, whether we be council tenants or home owners, but it also reduces the local amenities in the park. For this to happen during the school holidays is particularly mindless and the people responsible should be ashamed of themselves."