Members of a community group have spoken of their heartbreak after a newly-built play park was torched during a suspected arson attack.
Freemantle Lake Park in Southampton was gifted new sets of play equipment thanks to the fundraising efforts of Friends of the Freemantle Lake Park.
But the community has been left crushed after some of the equipment was set alight and damaged. 
In the past couple of years, Friends of Freemantle Lake Park helped raise nearly £200 to get new equipment.
Group secretary Charlotte Ndupuechi told the Echo: "We are totally devastated to see the damage caused by the fire in Freemantle Lake Park yesterday.
"The friend's group has worked incredibly hard over the last few years with the help of the local community to get the park to this stage.
"We urge anybody with information to come forward to the police."
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Freemantle resident Ania Anka said a group of children set fire to the equipment.
She said "a group of noisy kids devastated" the kit - and added: "Such awful behaviour."
Another resident, Stacey Rabbetts, who lives near the park, witnessed the incident and added: "I saw smoke and heard lots of shouting from my kitchen window and called the fire brigade."
Following the incident, more people have expressed their shock and concerns on social media.
On the Friends of Freemantle Lake Park Facebook group, one person said: "Heart-wrenching that young people can’t direct their energy in more intelligent ways."
Another added: "This is appalling. What is going on with these young people?
"Why would anyone choose to destroy the new equipment? So very sad."
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A fire crew was called to the blaze. Police confirmed the fire "isn't being investigated at this stage".
A spokesperson for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service said: "A crew from Redbridge Fire Station was alerted to a fire involving play equipment shortly after 8pm (on Tuesday) evening.
"Firefighters arrived at Freemantle Lake Park to find a small fire involving the playground apparatus and rubber floor.
"One hose reel jet was used to extinguish the fire before the crew returned to the station at 8.27pm."
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