TWO youngsters responsible for setting fire to picnic furniture in a Callington park have apologised to the town council for their actions.

A table and bench were badly damaged in the incident at the Saltash Road Recreation Park on March 5, which was attended by Callington firefighters.

At a meeting of Callington Town Council last week, PCSO Mark Stribley said a female was identified as being the culprit and another watched on and did nothing about it.

Because of their age, the town council, which owns the park, agreed to a 'Youth Restorative Disposal' which holds 10 to 17-year-olds to account for minor crime and disorder through the use of restorative justice and allows the victim to take an active role in the way an offender is dealt with.

Youth restorative disposals are only an option for low-level incidents where guilt is admitted and where there is a practical option for an apology or for the young person to put right the harm or loss they have caused.

It aims to strike the balance between addressing the offence and providing the support for young people in encouraging them to not commit further instances of crime or anti-social behaviour.

PCSO Stribley said the two girls would pay towards the cost of the repairs to the benches and had agreed to go on a firesetters' course.

In a letter of apology to the town council the offenders, who cannot be named because of their age, said it was a practical joke that got strongly out of hand and they now realised the implications for not only the council but for the community who used the facilities and the potential danger.

They wanted to ensure that nothing of this nature would happen again.

The police officer said 80% of offenders who received restorative disposals did not reoffend.

l The town council was also told that someone was currently helping police with enquiries regarding the theft of money from a coffee machine in the town hall.

Town clerk Helen Dowdall said: 'We appreciate that people pay a lot of money for their council tax and we will do our best to safeguard our facilities and make sure we are reimbursed for any damage that is done.'