A fire which ripped through a popular children’s play area has caused upset for families.

Fire crews tackled the blaze at the children’s play area in Lawn Road, Broadstairs.

One fire engine was sent to the scene, but some of the equipment and around 10 square metres of the matting was destroyed.

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Mum Karina Barker said: “My two-year-old son loves this park, especially the tunnel, as it’s the only one around here. He often asks to go to the ‘tunnel park’.

“He is too young to understand why he can’t go there any more, because other people think it’s OK to burn things.

“I just don’t understand what enjoyment people get from destroying property. Plus, it’s dangerous.

“I just hope that whoever did this realises that there are a lot of very upset children in Broadstairs today, and that they think twice about doing something like this again.”

Crews were called at 9.40pm on Monday and remained at the scene for around half an hour.

They used a main jet and a hose to put out the fire in the Memorial Recreation Ground.

Police were made aware of the incident by the fire service but did not attend.

Enquiries into the cause of the fire are ongoing.