Parents club together after arsonists strike at Cannock playground

The arson attack happened on October 3 at Cannock Sports Stadium, leaving youngsters devastated.

A slide and climbing frame were destroyed at the park on Pye Green Road, which only opened in May.

Now, families who used the park have set up a fundraising campaign in a bid to get the equipment replaced as soon as possible.

Father of three Rob Branson, used the park daily with his four year old son and is furious that the facility has been destroyed by vandals.

Firefighters were called to the scene just after 10pm and Mr Branson, from Lansbury Drive said: "My son loves the park so I had to go and see what had happened.

"Even in the dark I could see the damage caused."

His youngest son, Elliott, four, had used the park every day before vandals struck.

Mr Branson added: "We have used this park since it opened.

"I was so angry for my little boy because he races there after school."

Mr Branson went back the next day to see the extent of the deliberate damage.

"I saw the mess in daylight and there was rubbish strewn all over the play area. It was disgusting.

"The rubbish, including dirty nappies, had been thrown on the slide that wasn't burnt out."

He added: "I had to explain to Elliott and when he saw the park he was mad.

"He said 'I'm not upset, I'm angry. That's upsetting to hear from a four-year-old."

Mr Branson has asked to put donation buckets in local shops.

The group of parents want to see how much they can raise before a decision is made on how best to spend the funds.

Mr Branson said: "Once we know how much we have to spend we can look at either replacing the equipment or look at lighting or CCTV options."

Mike Edmonds, head of commissioning at Cannock Chase Council said: "The Council is actively speaking with the play area equipment manufacturers, who have been out to site and inspected the damage to the equipment.

"The Council is awaiting the manufacturers' findings for determining costs and timescales before the next course of action can be decided.

"The Council is committed to bringing this element of the park back into use as soon as possible for the benefit of local residents and the children who use this popular facility"

The new play area for toddlers and juniors was part of a £1.3 million investment in the area.

It is situated next to the SNAPS (Special Needs Adventure Playground) which was not affected by the blaze.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting incident 856 of Oct 3.