Mystery as shoes appear in the trees at Wolverhampton skate park

The trees, at Penn Island skate park in Wolverhampton, have dozens of pairs caught in their branches.

Councillor Elias Mattu, cabinet member for community safety, said he had received a message from a parent a few days ago whose child had had their shoes taken by others at the skate park and thrown into a tree.

"It is worrying because if the kids are taking shoes off other kids, how are they getting home? It is too cold to walk home barefoot. I am going to raise this at my next PACT meeting, this needs to stop.

"If they have got spare shoes and want to throw them up, fine. Obviously there are lots of shoes up there. I think it is just kids playing games."

However, Councillor Mattu said he was 'extremely concerned' for the safety of the young kids, adding: "This activity needs to stop. Plus, these shoes could be very expensive as well, and a burden on parents who have to buy them."

He planned to raise it with the Graiseley policing team as well.

The ward skate park, which is just on the edge of Councillor Mattu's Graiseley ward and St Peter's, was opened in 2003.

But Councillor Zahid Shah, St Peter's ward, has another theory.

He said: "Knowing what happens in my area if the laces are tied and trainers chucked up on lamp posts or a tree it means there is a drug deal or a drug dealer within that area."

When asked if it was concerning this was at a skate park where children hung out, he said: "What is happening if you go down to Whitmore Reans and go around Wolverhampton, the areas these guys are working from are parks, skate parks and things like that.

"A lot of guys who do that dealing are young kids. What better way to recruit new talent?"

Councillor Shah believed there needed to be more patrols from neighbourhood wardens and the police to help deter this behaviour.

He also thinks there needs to be more investment in areas like St Peters to improve prospects and clean up the area, as most investment is going to areas like Bentley Bridge and Bilston.

"There needs to be some pride in Wolverhampton city centre. I don't see any city pride. I have lived in the city all my life - we need more shops, and more credible shops. Parking needs to be free so people don't run off to Bentley Bridge, and they need to reduce the rates so that they can interest more big names to come into the city centre," he said.