Police are hunting "sick" vandals who sabotaged play equipment so it would collapse when children used it.

Braintree Council, which owns the play area in Witham's Bramble Road, said a youngster could have been seriously injured after vital bolts and fixings were removed from the equipment.

The vandals used special tools to carry out their task and left the swings and slides fully assembled so there was no sign of any tampering.

The sabotage - dubbed a "very sick booby trap" - came to light during a routine maintenance check by the council's parks and play areas monitoring officer.

Chris Trim, of Braintree Council, said: "Whoever removed the bolts was clearly working very systematically because specialist tools were used.

"It was clearly premeditated and it seems unlikely it was a stupid prank. If anything, it's an example of a very sick booby trap.

"It was a truly extraordinary thing which could have been carried out by teenagers or older people. It might even have been someone with a grudge against young children.

"There is a lot of heavy equipment in the playground which could have caused very serious injury if it had collapsed. Fortunately nobody was hurt."

Mayor of Witham Tom Hewitt said: "It's either an example of a pretty callous theft gone wrong or an act of complete and utter lunacy."

Braintree Council has urged anyone who sees people tampering with the play equipment, only installed last year, to contact it.

Mr Trim added: "Representatives from Braintree Commercial Services generally wear green uniforms and travel around in yellow council vans. It's also unusual they'd be alone."

Witham police are treating the attack very seriously and have launched an investigation.

Mayor of Witham Tom Hewitt - "either a callous theft gone wrong or an act of complete and utter lunacy."

Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE

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