A Blackburn community playground has been ruined after a football pitch was set on fire.

Firefighters were called to Bangor Street Community Centre, at 7pm on Saturday where plastic chairs and trays had been set on fire in the middle of a sports pitch with rubberised synthetic ground.

Crew manager Dave Hilliard said: “It has damaged several square metres.

"It is a real shame that this facility has been spoilt.

"A sign on the gate says ‘This belongs to the community and should be respected’.”

He said children at the scene claimed teenagers were responsible.