Vandals wreck Camelot theme park (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Vandals wreck Camelot theme park

11:41am Tuesday 30th September 2008 in

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Vandals who went on the rampage through Camelot theme park have caused several thousand pounds worth of damage.

The thugs broke into the popular Charnock Richard attraction twice in ONE week.

On the first occasion, sometime on the evening of September 18 or the early hours of September 19, the yobs broke into the park and raced go karts around before leaving and making good their escape.

The second break-in happened between 2.20am and 3am on September 22.

The thieves smashed CCTV cameras at the entrance to the park and broke through large metal gates.

Once inside, they embarked on a wrecking spree, smashing several food and retail units, doors and shutters, before making off with a go kart valued at around £2,000. Police say that the yobs caused around £4,000 of damage.

Bosses at the popular theme park have played down the damage but confirmed that extra security has been put in place.

Mark Leader, the park’s operational director, said: “There was minimal damage caused during these incidents and we are working with the police to apprehend those responsible. Extra security has also been put in place.”

Meanwhile, £5,000 worth of zip wire has been stolen from the site of the new Go Ape ariel adventure centre at Rivington.

Work has begun on converting a section of woodland, to the Great House Barn, into the £250,000 centre which will feature inter-linked zones with a variety of rope bridges between trees.

Police say thieves broke into the compound sometime between 7.20pm last Wednesday (September 24) and 7am on Thursday (25) and stole 11 spools of galvanised steel zip wire which each contained 250m of wire and weighed 150kg.

Sgt Andy Bramhall, of Chorley police, said: “We think that there must have been a couple of people involved in this theft because of the weight and size of the spools that were taken.”

Anyone with any information about either crime is asked to contact Chorley police on 01257 269021 or Crimestoppers, free and in confidence, on 0800 555 111.