A STARK warning has been spelled out over the future of Princetown's play park by its owners.
The play area by Princetown Primary School has been the target of repeated attacks by vandals during the last eight months — now Dartmoor Forest Parish Council says it can no longer afford to keep pouring money into the facility.
The string of attacks includes damage to swing-seats, benches, gates and a large section of a 'living fence' made out of willow which was planted two years ago.
Cllr James Langton said: 'There's a big 35ft section of the fence has been ripped out of the ground — we've got gates being broken and hinges being pinched.
'They actually unscrew those — I don't know what they do with them.'
Cllr Langton said repair work in the play park is a 'constant financial drain' to the council, which is questioning the economics of carrying on pouring money into the area.
'It's getting worse and worse,' he said.
'Hopefully, the home at Dartfordleigh is going to do some repairs on the living fence which will help us out this time, but it's such a shame when it was just beginning to sprout.'
Cllr Langton said the play park is very well used by children, but vandalism was 'ruining' it.
'Grave concern was expressed at the last council meeting about expense of the area,' he said.
'We have just ordered some seats for the baby swings — that's almost the end of the funds.'
PC Mark Hoar, Princetown's community policeman, said: 'Previously I have been willing to deal with these incidents by way of a warning, but unfortunately these seem to have gone unheeded.
'Anybody who is caught vandalising the play area can expect to be dealt with quite severely — this is not acceptable behaviour.'