VANDALS have caused hundreds of pounds of damage by ripping up a safety surface at a Moulton playground.

The flooring in the rodeo area of the Main Road play area was pulled up, replaced at a cost of £600 and then ripped up again before the resin had chance to dry and secure it properly.

Both incidents have happened during the night within the past month.

Phil Sanders, Moulton Parish Council’s clerk, said: “It costs £600 a go to repair, it’s an expensive exercise.”

At the moment the area is fenced off, with fence hire costing the parish council £18 a week.

The council’s playground inspector has suggested an alternative flooring of coconut matting, which would cost £1,475 but be more suitable.

Mr Sanders said: “Something has got to be done.

“The whole area is getting to the point where it needs a bit of an overhaul.”

“It’s getting old and getting tired.

“But hese issues are only arising because it’s used.”

Clr Pauline Vernon said this made it all the more important that repairs are carried out.

“It’s coming up to the six-week holiday when it will be used and used – it wants doing before then so therefore I don’t think we’ve got an option.”

The council agreed to try the coconut matting option for the rodeo area and Mr Sanders said the PCSOs were increasing patrols in the area.

The council’s special projects committee is also investigating installing CCTV at the Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), play area and war memorial.