Residents reacted with disgust on discovering that their village’s new play area was vandalised over the weekend, weeks before it had even opened to the public.

The community has been fundraising for a play area at Holden Park, Oakworth, Keighley, for over a year, with local children helping design the new facility – set to open at the end of the month.

More than £70,000 has been raised from events and through donations from organisations, and the new equipment is currently being installed.

But over the weekend, vandals daubed a children’s slide with blue paint.

Jo Spencer, a mum-of-two who started the play area project, said: “It is just sickening when you think about it. The park is so secluded, it needs CCTV really.

“The damage will be easy to fix, but that is not the point.

“The people who did this have no respect for other people’s property.”

She has reported the incident to the police and urged anyone who saw anything to contact the local Neighbourhood Policing Team.

When she posted a photo of the damage on the group’s Facebook page, residents vented their anger.

Mandy Graham said: “Don’t give up because some idiots decide to try to ruin your efforts.”

Tamara Newman added: “You are joking! They have vandalised the park already?”