HEARTLESS vandals set light to a children's adventure playground at a school just days before Christmas.

Pupils at Carrington County First School in Chapel Lane, Flackwell Heath, were shocked when they saw the damage callous yobs had done to their play equipment a week before the festive celebrations began.

School secretary Paula Williams said: "The children were very upset, very sad, especially at this time of year."

The arsonists had set fire to the middle of the apparatus, made out of logs for the children to walk along, and made the playground unusable.

"What makes it worse is that the vandals could well be people who used to go to the school or have brothers or sisters there," Mrs Williams said.

The latest incident is the last straw for the school which has had to cope with youths breaking into the site and on to the field.

"We get broken bottles and people being a nuisance," added Mrs Williams. "We have to clear away the glass before children are allowed to play."

The playground was installed after the Parents' Association raised funds to build it. Much of the money was raised with a summer fair as well as other smaller events.

Funds might now have to be found to repair the playground because the school's insurance might not cover the damage to it. Workmen have looked at the damage but it is not known how much it might cost to restore the adventure playground.

Anyone with information about the fire should contact PC Feltwell of Marlow Police on (01628) 816920