VANDALS have been at work in Callington, wrecking play equipment in the park and damaging greenhouses at the allotments.

Over the last two weekends toddler play equipment laying in a compound at the Saltash Road Recreation Ground to be refurbished has been removed and completely wrecked.

Haye Road allotment holders have also reported smashed glass in their greenhouses and plants pulled up.

Callington town clerk Vernon Anderson said the old wooden climbing frame and tunnel had been removed on health and safety grounds but was due to be refurbished and reused in another park in Cornwall.

The park is currently undergoing a major revamp and there has been some demolishing and landscaping work going on. New equipment for the toddlers and over eights is on order.

'The weather has been nice and it's good that people are using the park,' said Mr Anderson.

'We want people to enjoy it but over the last couple of weekends people have been drinking in the parks and there has been damage and broken glass bottles left in the play areas — it is not acceptable.

'The equipment may have been old but now it is totally destroyed by being dragged around the park and smashed up. To replace it would cost in the region of £10,000.'

Mr Anderson said he hoped people would respect the new equipment when it was installed as much time, effort and money was being put into it and the community had been involved in the process.

'It's a disappointment but we will carry on getting on with the job,' he said.