TEENAGERS have caused more than £1,000 of damage to a park.

A children’s library which contained 70 books has been ‘trashed’ at Burnley’s Ightenhill Park and a polytunnel, which has cost £2,000 to build and remains under construction, has been damaged by vandals.

Friends of Ightenhill Park co-secretary, Suzanne Smith, has described the actions of the youngsters involved as ‘frustrating’. Damage to the polytunnel, library, noticeboard and lights will cost £1,050 to replace or repair.

The 45-year-old, from Ightenhill, said: “Parents need to take responsibility for the actions of their children.”

Three CCTV cameras are set to be installed around the polytunnel to deter further acts of vandalism and fundraisers will be held over the next few months to raise money for repairs and improvements to the park, including Buzzing Bee Day on May 18 where hundreds are expected to visit to the park’s bee hive.

For the last 10 months the Ightenhill Park Lane grounds have been ‘wrecked’ by vandals who have damaged equipment and charitable donations, such as books for the children’s library.

The problem has worsened over the Easter bank holiday weekend which ended with the polytunnel, vandalised as youngsters cut holes inside it.

The latest incident, on Friday night, saw the children’s library ‘trashed’.

The mum-of-two said: “Vandals have broken the shelves and ruined most of the books.

“I cleaned it up on Saturday and it didn’t need replacing then. Overnight on Saturday they ripped the doors off and ruined it completely.

“A company has contacted us saying they can make us a purpose built and robust metal one and are willing to donate it to us.

“We rely on fundraising for park improvements and it’s a shame that these acts are holding us back.”