RESIDENTS in East Tilbury have been shocked this evening after a latest act of vandalism which has seen a children's slide destroyed by fire.

The fire was set, possibly by using a liquid fuel, on the slide in Gobions park earlier this evening (Wednesday, 14 April).

Firefighters were quickly on the scene but were unable to save the slide.

Ward councillor Fraser Massey said: "The slide was was quite unique in the area and has been in place a long time, it was one of the kids' favourites.

"It just makes me angry that so many people volunteer and put their own time and effort into getting equipment for parks and idiots think it's fun to set fire to it."

Fellow ward councillor Sue Sammons is also angry and she told Thurrock Nub News: "The whole community is gutted that this vandalism has taken place tonight.

"This was a much loved and used piece of equipment that the younger children had great fun on for many years they will be heartbroken to see this.

"It is soul destroying to say the least when this happens. Last week it was a rubbish bin the fire brigade attended to and now this.

"I have asked the station if they would take the Metro newspapers in at the end of the day as we have seen many fires last year and the bin last week, in which copies were collected from the station to start fires but I have been told if just a few papers are left they will be taken in but if there are several they will be left in the news stand.

"As this station is not manned at night youths can just take as many as they need to start such fires. People must surely go home smelling of smoke as this was not a small fire."

Dozens of local residents have taken to social media to express their anger and condemn the vandalism, which is not the first to have taken place in the park which is managed in conjunction with Thurrock Council by a group of community-minded residents.