A KNIFE-wielding boy, aged around four, reportedly threatened to ‘kill’ a roller blading granny after she ordered him out of the children’s play park at Poole’s Whitecliff.

According to witnesses, the lad – thought to be one of the Irish travellers camped nearby – tried to enter the gated park brandishing a four-inch blade.

Louise Barber, aged 42, of Branksome, Poole, was enjoying an evening with her husband and two grandchildren on Wednesday.

The young grandmother, who enjoys roller-blading, said: “He was approaching me with the knife saying: ‘I’m going to kill you. I’m going to kill you.’ At one point I considered throwing one of my roller boots at him.

“We’re talking about a three or four-year-old boy, it was ridiculous. He’d opened up both sides of this large Swiss Army Knife and was trying to get into the park where all these young children were playing.”

Mrs Barber feared one of the children could get injured if she’d let him in with the weapon.

“I went over to my husband and said: ‘That little kid has a knife in his hand running about like it’s a toy.’ “I skated over to him and said: ‘You’re not coming in here, go back to your parents now.’ He had a very thick accent and said: ‘I’m going to kill you.’ “He would have used it, there’s absolutely no doubt.

“I’m thinking: ‘He’s a little kid but he’s got a knife. What can I do?’”

In the end he ran back to the travellers’ encampment, yards from the play area.

Mrs Barber didn’t report the incident to police.

“He ran over to a man who must have been his father,” she said.

“He did nothing. I just heard him tell the boy: ‘Find something else to play with.’”

Borough of Poole temporarily closed the same play park area on Friday, but this was unrelated to the midweek incident.

Council regulatory service team manager Jeff Morley said: “We understand the frustration that residents feel when an unauthorised encampment is set up and we do not condone violence or threatening behaviour from anyone.”

He urged any incidents to be reported to the police.

The travellers, who moved onto Whitecliff last week, had been served with a notice to leave the area and, by last night, all the caravans had departed.

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