Warning after toilet rolls used to start 'another' blaze in Doncaster park playground

Vandals struck at Sandall Park over the weekend, using disposable lighters to create a fire from loo rolls in the park’s Playbuilder tower.

The warning comes after a serious blaze destroyed the outdoor adventure playground at nearby Sandall Beat Woods before Christmas.

Sandra Crabtree of Friends of Sandall Park, the volunteer group which looks after the Wheatley park, said: “Another fire has been lit at the Playbuilder Tower. Toilet rolls and disposable lighters seem to be the favourite fuel.

"Again we'll ask - if you see a 'gathering' under the tower that isn't the normal activity of children playing - please report it before some real damage is caused.

"As the saying goes "when it's gone, it's gone".

"There is takeaway rubbish on there most mornings, so someone is using it as a meeting place.”

There have been a number of vandal attacks on facilities at the park in recent months, particularly during the coronavirs lockdown.

A similar outdoor climbing area and adventure playground at Sandall Beat Woods was destroyed by fire early in December after being set alight in a suspected arson attack.

A funding campaign was launched by volunteer group Friends of Sandall Beat to raise £10,000 – but the group has now been told by Doncaster Council that the actual cost of reinstating the playground will be £100,000 after it was totally gutted.