A PLAY area has been left virtually unuseable after it was repeatedly targeted by vandals.

The playground on Royston Road, Cudworth has had its climbing frame covered in graffiti and safety matting damaged.

It has reached the stage where the council has had to remove the swings from their frames as they were unsafe.

Kerry Webb lives on nearby Clifford Street and said the playground is the only place she could take her two young children.

“It’s disgusting really,” Kerry, 22, said. “It’s the school holidays and all the kids can go on is the little baby swing and the roundabout and we don’t really want to spend too long there.

“We used to go all the time, but the graffiti has been there for a while and the floor was ripped up two weeks ago.

“It would be nice for the kids to go to a park without walking all the way down into Cudworth or getting the bus.”

Kerry went to the playground on Monday morning to find the swings had been removed.

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She said she has seen teenagers sitting in the play area, but had not seen anyone causing any damage.

Coun Jenny Platts, spokesman for communities, said: “Unfortunately the surfacing at Royston Road park in Cudworth has been damaged by vandals.

“For safety reasons we’ve removed the swings and are hoping to repair the surface as soon as possible.

“The swings will be returned when the surface has been repaired.

“It’s very sad that a small minority of people think that this kind of behaviour is acceptable.

“Acts of vandalism spoil our parks and add unnecessary strain on the work of our parks team.

“If anyone knows any information about those responsible for causing this damage contact safer@barnsley.gov.uk.”