A NEW play park in Launceston has been subjected to a suspected arson attack, just a month on from celebrations there to mark the official handover of the park to Launceston Town Council.

Six firefighters from the town were called to Lanstephan play park just off St Mary’s Road just after 1am on Tuesday, August 29.

The nest swing was burnt, which is thought to have dropped onto the matting below. Crews used one hose reel to extinguish the fire.

Arson was suspected and Devon and Cornwall Police was informed of the incident.

The handover of the new park to Launceston Town Council was celebrated with a community event there on August 1.

Three years ago Lanstephan Area Play Park was a derelict car park in the middle of a housing estate with little in the way of open space or play areas. Residents formed the Lanstephan Area Play Park Committee, began talks with Cornwall Council and set about raising funds to transform the site into an inviting public space for everyone on the estate. Cornwall Housing agreed to tidy up the site, while Cornwall Council provided some capital funding to bring it up to a good standard of repair before the freehold transfer of the site took place. Meanwhile the Lanstephan Area Play Park Committee secured grant funding for low maintenance play equipment, perimeter fencing, seating and colourful planters to brighten up the site.

Chairman of the Lanstephan Area Play Park group Iris Lindsay said: “The whole of the swing is burnt and the bits it hangs on. It looks like it’s then dropped onto the surface and burnt all the surface — that really expensive surface will have to be replaced as well.

“We mustn’t let them beat us.”