Parents today told of their fury after vandals burnt down children's playground equipment.

And their anger was fuelled further when Southend Council revealed it could not afford to replace the equipment in Friars Park, Shoebury, in the near future.

Young firebugs started a fire at the base of a thick wooden four-metre tall maypole and the flames burnt a chunk of wood away plus the two rubber seats which once hung from metal chains.

Mum Gail Watkins, 36, from nearby Bowbank Close, was walking through the park yesterday with her three-year-old son Billy.

She said: "A few weeks back they also burnt down the other equipment which used to have car tyres hanging from it.

"People say the kids have nothing to do but when things are provided for them they burn them down. We never did stuff like this when we were kids."

A council spokesman said: "A piece of play equipment in Friars Park was damaged by fire and we reported it to the police on discovery.

"The equipment is beyond repair and would cost £3,500 to replace. nfortunately, at this time we do not have the money in the playground maintenance budget to replace this item."