It could be vandalised out of sight - that is the chilling message to leisure bosses about to install a £100,000 children's play area in Central Park, Gooshays Drive, Harold Hill.

The stark warning comes from Havering Sports Council member and former Havering Council leisure committee member Dennis Cook, who bemoaned the state of the Central Park swimming pool recently in the Gazette.

Plans for colourful themed play areas in Central Park were announced in November by Havering Council.

But as leisure services hesitate on installing CCTV cameras, Mr Cook, 64, believes vandals will ensure playground fun for his two young children and others could be as short lived as it has been elsewhere in Harold.

He points to Amy's Playground in St Neot's Road and North Hill recreation ground in North Hill Drive.

Mr Cook said: "If CCTV goes into Central Park I will welcome the development. But if it doesn't, the facelift could be vandalised out of sight. Amy's Playground has been wrecked, despite supposedly vandal proof state of the art equipment.

"All three toddlers' swings are wrapped around the cross bar and covered in graffiti. Other things have been set alight. And I have never seen people return to North Hill rec after visiting. Both parks cost £35,000 and opened just six years ago. You've got to preserve what you've got."

Mr Cook's sentiments on park security are echoed by other Harold residents.

One refuses to let his children visit a Keats Avenue play area for fear of drug users and another slammed Amy's Playground as "an unhealthy disgrace".

The demise of Amy's Playground is especially perturbing for residents as it was built in memory of Amy Crokford, full time play leader in Harold Hill for many years.

But serious improvement through public money alone is unlikely, as leisure services face a shortfall of between £3.5 and £5million to bring and keep existing services up to scratch.

Cllr Margaret Latham, community services chairman, said: "We do not believe improvements to Central Park will be wasted.

"After securing external funding from the Cleanaway Trust and Single Regeneration Budget (New Horizons For Harold Hill) we have involved local parents and young people in the project who can feel proud of the achievement and have a sense of ownership.

"There will also be additional staff to work with young people. However, some security measures will be in place along with CCTV equipment at Central Park pool.

"We are hoping to eventually upgrade all our play sites by securing external funding and working alongside the community."

No fun: Dennis Cook with daughter Katie at vandal-hit Amy's Playground.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.