A POPULAR children’s play centre had to close yesterday after the building was damaged - a month on from a similar incident.

The Ark at Poole Park was targeted by a lone vandal in the early hours of Monday morning.

Dorset Police are investigating the incident in which a window was smashed and the soft play area was left in a state.

The group manager of the Ark and nearby restaurant The Kitchen, Martin Bell, said the damage left staff with no option but to close for the day.

“Unfortunately we had a break in at the Ark this morning at about 5.15am,” Mr Bell said.

“Damage was done internally and also to two of the external windows.

“While we try to get the play area into shipshape for the little ones we will remain closed.

“We will probably have to board up the windows for the time being and perhaps put an Ark in the Park board in place rather than replacing the windows.”

“The cost of it just adds up as you go through the day.

“I was called by the general manager of the site.

“We are hoping the CCTV will be able to help find who did this.”

Mr Bell added he “wasn’t happy about it” when he discovered what had happened at the centre.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said they were investigating the incident.

“We were called at about 5.25am by an alarm system going off.

“There has been no arrests made at present.

“Nothing was taken and entry was made by breaking windows.”

The Ark opened in Poole four and a half years ago and had to replace a broken window after a break-in last month.

“We work very hard here. It’s been a busy summer and just don’t really need things like this.”

Parkstone ward councillor Ann Stribley, said: “It’s so disappointing to hear.

“Vandalism is such a pointless exercise. Nobody gains from it and I feel to understand what the vandals get out of it.

Staff at the Ark decided to not let the vandals completely ruin their day by dressing up in their mascot outfits and meeting children in the Dolphin Centre.