CCTV may be used at a new neighbourhood green after trees and shrubs were uproot-ed.

Vandals struck at the £400,000 government-funded play area and park in Olive Lane, Darwen, at the weekend.

The project was completed only four months ago but has already been targeted several times by vandals and young people on motorbikes.

Today, Sudell councillor Roy Davies said: "It looks like it's children who have been mindlessly kicking the plants out of the ground and pulling the saplings apart.

"The parents of these kids need to make sure they know what they are up to. Every taxpayer has paid good money to have this park done but what's the point when people are doing this?

"I was coming home on Sunday night and there was a lad screaming up and down on a motorbike where the children play.

"Several shrubs had been ripped out and thrown around. It looks like someone has had a saw on the saplings. They've no respect for anything."

PC Geoff Unsworth, who covers the Sudell area, said: "Three trees were broken off and a dozen shrubs uprooted.

"There has been a number of problems with vandalism there and we are monitoring the area and working with the council. We are looking into the possibility of getting a CCTV camera for the park. I have also done a letter drop around the park asking people to ring me if they see anything."

Work began on the neighbourhood green last April after a grant from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Liveability Fund.

Residents were consulted on what they would like and it was decided to create an area where youngsters could play and a landscaped section with benches where the elderly could walk and sit.

Coun Davies is also checking whether wire cages, often used to protect trees, could be put around the remaining saplings.