Skate park wreckers run up £5,000 bill

A skate park in the Black Country was closed today after vandals caused damage put at £5,000 in an overnight rampage.

The wreckers ripped up safety barriers, smashed bins and daubed graffiti on walls at the £150,000 facility at Brunswick Park, Wednesbury, which opened just eight months ago.

Horrified members of the public raised the alarm when they spotted the damage. The clean-up operation is set to begin this week, but Sandwell Council cannot confirm when the site will reopen to skaters.

Three 6ft long metal barriers were pulled from the top of ramps during the attack, overnight yesterday.

Councillor Ann Shackleton, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for youth, culture and leisure, said: "We have closed off the skate park while we carry out repairs, which will be done this week.

"Clearly this is a disgraceful act of vandalism by a minority of individuals."