Partying teenagers have set fire to a skatepark and dumped dozens of broken bottles and beer cans – causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage.
The trail of destruction was left in Bayston Hill on Sunday when an all-night party left the Stanley Parker BMX track and surrounding football pitches strewn with smashed glass, beer cans, firewood, upturned benches and broken plastic chairs. Culprits also attempted to set the tarmacadam surface alight, leaving a big hole requiring repair work which could cost hundreds of pounds to fix.
Residents say the site, off Lythwood Road, often has problems with groups of ‘undesirables’ hanging around but that Sunday’s incident was the worst it has ever seen.
Dog walker Tony Hersee made the discovery while exercising his Labrador and raised the alarm straight away, fearing youngsters were in danger of injuring themselves on the dangerous waste left behind.
He said: “It has never been anything near that bad, there were broken plastic chairs, bottles and beer cans strewn over quite a wide area including actually on the skate park.
“It’s a real danger to children and animals and what is a very beautiful, picturesque place now looks a complete mess. It really was terrible and whoever is responsible should be ashamed.”
Hazel Jones, chairman of Bayston Hill Parish Council, said: “It was an all-night party and there were broken chairs and glass and they also attempted to set fire to the tarmac which has left a big hole which we will now have to repair.
“It is an ongoing problem and at this time of year we do get large numbers of undesirable characters coming up here and it has been left in really quite a mess.”
Spokesperson for West Mercia Police, Richard Ewels, said: “We received a call on Monday about damage which seems to have been caused overnight at Stanley Parker BMX track and sports complex. The local policing team has been informed and are looking into the matter and we would appeal for further information on the culprits.”
Anyone with information should contact police on 0300 333 3000 or Crimstoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
By David Seadon