Vandals caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to an outdoor gym just hours after it was opened earlier this month. The outdoor facility, which sits just behind Woodlands YMCA in Leavesden Park, has seen around £500 worth of damage caused to the equipment, which was opened for members of the community to use free of charge.

As you will see from our picture, the area has had to be fenced off after the vandals used a quad bike and rope to pull the equipment over, which has caused a significant amount of damage. The frustrating thing for those who were responsible for the outdoor gym is the vandalism occurred no less than 12 hours after it was opened. Newton Ford, of Park Leisure, was at the scene repairing the equipment when My Garston News went to the park to inspect the damage. He said: “We’ve had a whole assembly pulled out of the ground which has caused a number of broken parts. The adjacent ski machine had welds ripped apart from some incredible force, while some of the rubber mats have been set on fire.” Newton told us that parts had cost £500, while replacing the concrete had been completed by the contractor on a complimentary basis, which would have cost even more money. Leavesden Park Ranger, Martin Brooks, was naturally furious after discovering the damaged equipment, and told My Garston News that the money used to repair the equipment could see funding for other projects withdrawn. He said: “It’s a terrible state of affairs and the bottom line is its criminal damage. What bothers me most is we may now not be able to go forward with plans to install a BMX track and Skate Park because some of the money has been used to repair the gym.” Martin continued: “I’m sorry, but I don’t believe in all this ‘they only do it because they are bored nonsense’, criminal damage is criminal damage, and now kids who deserve new facilities may not get them.” Martin also told us that around £1,700 was having to be spent on erecting a fence around the park’s tennis courts. He said: “We keep getting tennis nets stolen and the authorities won’t replace them anymore until the area is secure. That means I have to put a fence up around it, which means more money has to be spent. I have asked for CCTV to be installed but have been told not enough incidents have occurred!” Abbots Langley Police Sergeant, Neil Canning, told My Garston News that investigations would take place to try and find the vandals. If you have any information please call the Crimestoppers number on 0845 3300222.