VANDALS embarked on a wrecking spree in Tavistock's Meadows last weekend — an attack which council staff warn is putting lives in danger.

A new £12,000 scramble net was ruined just two days after installation, when vandals tore out the equipment's supports — and council staff had to pull the safety fence around it from the canal and river three times during the weekend.

Two seats were also thrown in to the canal, plus other council property.

Works superintendent Les Bennett said: 'It's soul destroying — but the other side of it is they are not thinking of safety of people. If we didn't do a regular safety check it could easily cause an accident.

'They are just not conscious of what damage they could do to individuals.'

Mr Bennett said vandals had previously attacked wooden benches with saws from underneath, so any break is not visible from the top.

'That sort of thing could easily cause a back injury,' he said.

Roger Howard, Tavistock town clerk, said the attack was 'very sad'.

He said works staff believed the vandals must have come to the Meadows 'fully prepared' to do the damage, as tools would have to have been used to attack the net fixings..

The new scramble net was installed by the town council after a consultation exercise revealed popular support for this type of play facility by the town's primary school children.

It was due to be officially opened by the mayor of Tavistock, Cllr Norma Woodcock, on Tuesday.

Cllr Woodcock said: 'I am desperately disappointed. We are trying to make every effort to improve facilities and it seems we take one step forward and two back.

'Luckily, we know the majority of people appreciate and enjoy the facilities we have in the Meadows.'

Cllr Woodcock said she hoped to officially open the scramble net next week, once it had been repaired.

Part of the cost of the net was met by a donation from Tavistock Play Week.

Playweek co-ordinator Cathy Palmer said she was very sad that such a much-needed enhancement to the play group area had been wrecked so quickly.

Meadowlands swimming pool was also targetted by vandals over the weekend.

A metal bar was thrown through the office window at the pool and a gate was also damaged.