Vandals target Swaffham's new outdoor gym

Vandals targeted Swaffham's recreation ground soon after a fun day celebrating the official launch of a new �18,000 outdoor gym on the site.

Vandals targeted Swaffham's recreation ground soon after a fun day celebrating the official launch of a new �18,000 outdoor gym on the site.

Following the fun day on Saturday, June 5 the temporary toilets that had been put on the recreation ground for the event were pushed over and damaged.

Deputy town clerk Michelle Meyrick said: 'The Friends of Swaffham Rec put so much effort into the fun day. It was such a fantastic day and everybody had fun - but this has put a black cloud over everything.'

Mrs Meyrick said repairing the damage to the toilets will cost about �230.

Carol Baker, a member of the Friends of Swaffham Rec, said the Friends had been delighted with the official opening of the outdoor gym but felt really disappointed that vandalism had marred the event.

A Norfolk Police spokesman said the vandalism happened sometime between 5pm on Saturday, June 5 and 8am on Monday, June 7.

He said: 'Two portable toilets were damaged. The toilets had been pushed over and rolled around. The roof of one of them had been pulled off, the soap dispensers had been damaged and there was damaged to one of the doors.'

The vandalism of the temporary toilets comes just weeks after one of the pieces of outdoor gym equipment was damaged beyond repair and had to be replaced by the town council.

Although this was covered by insurance, the town council still had to pay an excess of �350.

Swaffham's Town Council Recreation Ground Committee was responsible for installing the new outdoor gym which was funded by the Friends of Swaffham Rec, the Big Lottery Fund and a bid for an allocation of money given from developers building in the town.

Anybody with information about the vandalism should contact Norfolk Police on 0845 4564567.