VANDALS have struck in Lymington forcing the temporary closure of a £165,000 brand new skatepark after smashing up CCTV equipment and lighting a bonfire.

The facility in Woodside was launched just over two weeks ago as the culmination of a community effort between local skaters, fundraisers and the town council.

The area has suffered a spike in damage including new graffiti, scorch marks on new play equipment at Meadowlands Park in Lower Buckland Road, and the wrecking of a football dugout at Lymington sports ground.

The issue was raised at a meeting of the council’s amenities committee when chairman Cllr Peter Allen declared: “Vandalism is at an unacceptable level is this town.”

The skatepark incident happened some time during the bank holiday weekend when the electricity box at the base of the pole-mounted CCTV was broken open and a fire lit on the concrete ramps.

Town clerk Caroline Godfrey said: “I am absolutely dismayed. It’s been such a massive involvement by young people as well, and to have it trashed to this degree — it strikes me at my heart.

“It’s ruining an opportunity for people in the school holidays to use it appropriately. Lots of little ones have been using it.”

The electrics have been rewired and the CCTV is back on but the site was shut as a precaution until the box could be resealed.

The concrete ramp also had to be assessed to check for cracks which could be dangerous to skaters.

“It’s heart-breaking to see this happen so soon after everyone was saying what a wonderful new skatepark it was,” added the clerk.

“They have smashed the CCTV box open at the bottom of the pole and ripped all the wiring out.

They are lucky not to have electrocuted themselves, to be honest.”

The incident has been reported to the police.