Vandals completely destroyed children’s play equipment by setting fire to “For Sale” signs they had placed in a large rope swing.

Some £3,000 worth of damage was caused to the Twelve Acres play area in the Marks Farm estate in Braintree last Friday after arsonists targeted a swing basket.

The basket was totally burnt out and the fire also damaged the safety surfacing below the swing, which was only installed last month at a cost of £3,483 to Braintree Council.

The steel swing frame was not affected by the fire.

See the Braintree Times for the full story.