A GROUP of up to 40 teenagers is believed to be responsible for vandalising a children's play area.

Hundreds of pounds of damage was caused to the playground adjoining Hallow Parish Hall in Hallow, near Worcester.

Bins were set alight and play equipment was damaged on Friday, April 27.

Kate Williams, who runs Hallow Playgroup, is angry because it will now fall on her and other villagers to raise money to repair the damage.

"I appreciate that young people need somewhere to go but if they can't look after it, why should we have to pay for it to be mended?

"When we were there on the Friday night, there were between 30 and 40 teenagers, aged from 12 to about 19.

"It was like a meeting point. The thing I don't understand is, there were parents dropping their children off."

Mrs Williams said the play area, which was only built four years ago, had been damaged before and the groups which use the parish hall - including Hallow Parish Council - often had to clear up empty beer cans, wine bottles and cigarette ends.

Peter Roe, clerk of the council, said: "Everyone is totally frustrated with not getting anywhere. It will be discussed by the council at the next meeting but, at the moment, there is nothing set down."

Mrs Williams said the group had burnt the post at the bottom of a swing set, burnt the tarmac and the litter bin and dented a metal play tunnel.

She said she would like to see security cameras installed but had no idea how they would find the money to pay for them.

No one from West Mercia police press office was available to comment as the Worcester News went to press.

A spokeswoman said they were too busy dealing with the shooting of Shrewsbury constable Richard Gray.