VANDALS have struck at one Selby play area as another one opens.

The play area at the Community Centre field in Scott Road was damaged when a large piece of wood was removed from the equipment which held in place a metal safety handrail.

Steve Shaw-Wright, chairman of the community trust, said: “It is unfortunate as we head into the school holidays that vandals have damaged this piece of equipment, but for health and safety reasons we had to close access to the equipment until it can be repaired.

“Thanks to the contractor SJ Danby it was repaired this week, but this area will be monitored now and should any further equipment be vandalised, the community trust will have to consider ways forward.”

But a new BMX track was opened at the Petre Avenue Recreation Ground in Selby, at a cost of £25,000 and after two years of work led by the South Selby Tenants and Residents Association, in partnership with Groundwork North Yorkshire.

Working with the district and town council, Barwic Parade Community Primary School and main contractor Lightmain Company Limited, the project was funded by grants from Eggborough Power Landfill Communities Fund, Drax Power Landfill Communities Fund and the Community Development Foundations Neighbourhood Matched Fund.

The idea came from young people in south Selby, in a resident survey, and was designed with their input, including that of ten-year-old Liam Strangeway, of Barwic Parade Community Primary School, who won a BMX bike in a design a sign competition.