A NEW play park for youngsters has been vandalised just days after it was opened.

The £230,000 Timber Tangle adventure playground in King’s Park, Bournemouth, was opened by mayor Eddie Coope on Friday last week, featuring the town's first double-zip wire.

Over the weekend that zip wire was targeted by vandals, with one of the lines now out of action. The vandals also uprooted and snapped trees, dislodged turf and overturned bins.

Andy Mcdonald, head of parks for Bournemouth council, said: "We are disappointed that the hard work of everyone who was involved in making the playground new has been tarnished.

"The matter is currently being investigated by the police and if anyone has any information please contact them."

Boscombe councillor Philip Stanley-Watts condemned the destructive behaviour.

"I was at King's Park on Sunday for the Boscombe 10k and there were a lot of children enjoying the play park," he said.

"This is a terrible thing to do to a brand new facility for all the children in the area. Many live in flats and haven't got anywhere nearby to play outside except for this park.

"It is abhorrent vandalism of the worst kind.

"Perhaps we could put CCTV in the area to deter it."

Youngsters from neighbouring King's Park Academy were involved in designing the play park with council landscaper Jacqui van Bommel, particularly its central climbing frame, and they planted trees and stepping stones as part of a sensory trail.

The dual zip line was introduced so children can race each other.

The park was funded by contributions from developers, public health funds and councillors' local improvement funds.

A spokesman from Dorset Police said officers had been called to King’s Park twice since the reopening.

"On Friday, November 25, officers were called at 4.47pm to reports of antisocial behaviour. Nothing was damaged,” the spokesman said.

"On Saturday, November 26, we were called at 10.54pm to further reports of antisocial behaviour.

"Police attended on both occasions but the group had already left by the time officers arrived."