Play area closed after vandal attack causes 'toxic alert'
A village play area was closed off to children after fire extinguisher powder was sprayed over equipment in a vandal attack described as the 'new craze'.
Fears the powder was toxic meant council officers planned to close the park on Pelsall Common for four days.
But after officers discovered it was powder from fire extinguishers they reopened the park following a couple of hours cleaning up the popular site.
Outraged community leaders have said similar vandalism has taken place at other parks, including in High Heath and Rushall.
Pelsall ward member Councillor Marco Longhi said: "It is to be deplored. Is is astonishingly foolish behaviour by a group of young people to prevent even younger people gaining access to the facility which is paid for by taxpayer's money.
"We have fought long and hard over the years for Pelsall to have facilities including this. We used to have a very old play area there and it is really, really sad to see this mindless behaviour by a very small group who spoil it for everyone else. I just think it's stupid."
The mess was reported on Saturday and originally the park was set to be closed until yesterday, Tuesday, but a team of officers attended within hours and jet washed the area which meant it could be reopened the same day.
Powder fire extinguishers are non-toxic but as it was not clear what the substance was at first it was closed as a precaution.
Fellow Pelsall representative Councillor Garry Perry was one of the first on the scene after being contacted by a resident.
He tried to remove the substance himself before seeking the help of council staff.
Councillor Perry said: "It is a very unfortunate incident and things like this do not happen a lot in Pelsall. But we have such a strong community that people won't tolerate it. It is just such a silly thing to do.
"Some of the people who have done this would have been using the park themselves a few years ago.
"It was probably intended as a bit of fun but it has created three or four hours of work for a team of officers."
He added: "I have been told extinguishers have been found at other parks including High Heath and Rushall but I don't know whether that is linked to this. Apparently it is a new craze now with people getting hold of them and spraying them everywhere."
