RECENTLY installed play equipment in Tilbury, placed at the Daisy Field as part of the Tilbury Town Fund's regeneration efforts has been destroyed by an arson attack.

Residents gave spoken of their anger at the vandalism. Fire crews who attended were unable to save the equipment.

The play equipment was only unveiled at a special launch event earlier this month.

Cllr Rob Gledhill, Leader of Thurrock Council, said: "This mindless vandalism doesn't just make the area look bad and poorly maintained, it denies children and young people a place to safely meet, play and exercise.

"This equipment has only been in place for a few weeks so those who have done this show little respect for their community and those who live there who want much needed improvements. I would urge anyone who has any information about those who damaged the equipment to contact 101, contact Crimestoppers anonymously or using the chat function on the Essex Police website.

"This equipment was part of work to boost various projects in Tilbury which took place earlier this year, thanks to fast-tracked funding of £500,000 provided by the Tilbury Towns Fund Board under the Government's £3.6billion Towns Fund scheme."

Chair of Tilbury Towns Fund Board, Peter Ward, said: "I'm incredibly disappointed on behalf of the Tilbury Towns Fund Board and for the local community that this new play equipment at Daisy Field has been vandalised so soon after our special launch event.

"We worked hard with the community to come up with the right projects which would benefit the residents who live and work in Tilbury the most from our accelerated funding, as part of the Government's Towns Fund scheme. We're expecting to hear soon about whether our proposals for further investment from the government to continue the multi-million pound regeneration of Tilbury have been successful.

"To hear that the good work that has already taken place in Tilbury has already encountered a setback is devastating."