TODDLERS were at risk of serious injury after vandals spread barbed wire, rusty saw blades and broken bottles on the grass in a popular Ringwood Recreation Ground at the weekend.

Now the town council has put up posters offering a reward for information leading to conviction of the culprits who “could have disfigured and maimed young children”.

Groundsman Kelvin Wentworth spotted the danger when he went to Carvers Recreation Ground for the regular Saturday morning rubbish collection at 6.30am.

The dangerous debris was spread in a six-feet-wide strip along the edge of the enclosed Free Spirit runaround area next to the playground.

Town clerk Terry Simpson said: “It is awful. It’s premeditated vandalism. Horrendous.”

He said that if it was not for the actions of the groundsmen who called him out to help with a fingertip search of the play area the actions of the vandals could have “meant a visit to Accident and Emergency”.

“This is nothing more than mindless malicious vandalism intended to cause injury to users of the area, who just happen to be toddlers,” said Mr Simpson.

After spending the morning clearing the sharp metal and broken beer bottles, he, Kelvin Wentworth and his head groundsman brother Clive Wentworth had picked up more than 100 four-inch lengths of barbed wire plus the sections of saw and shards of glass.

Council amenities committee chairman Cllr Brian Terry said it was the latest in a spate of vandalism at the rec.

He had recently been assured by Ringwood’s Insp James Douglas that Carvers rec was given top priority.

Mayor Christine Ford was “absolutely appalled” by the incident.

Sgt Ricky Gallagher said: “This is the first time that something of this nature has occurred at the recreation ground.

“Thankfully it was noticed early and cleared up by council staff before anyone was injured but it could have had serious consequences if a child had walked over or fallen on the glass, barbed wire or rusty saw blades that were left at the location.”

Anyone with information should contact 0845 045 4545.