Vandals who damaged play equipment in Wealdstone have destroyed a “truly local park”.

But now calls for money to fund repairs are becoming desperate as the tampered apparatus poses a threat to children who still try to use it.

The Weald Village Open Space, on The Cross Way, was targeted by miscreants in May. As well as stealing the swings, damaging the merry-go-round and cutting the zip-wire cable, they meticulously removed every bolt from a climbing frame using a bicycle repair kit.

“I’m surprised it didn’t end in disaster,” said Joy Holmes, chair of the Weald Village Community Association.

“The local kids have gone all summer without something to play on. I heard they’re redesigning new equipment now as what was there was mainly for older children – there was nothing for toddlers.”

Wealdstone councillor Phillip O’Dell said he had raised the issue of funding with the council but had not received any firm guarantees of when, or even if, the equipment would be replaced.

Acting operations manager Steve Caddock said the repairs would cost in the region of £20,000, as much of the damage done was “none repairable”.

He added that he was seeking approval from council budget holders to release the required funds.

“It would be nice to have it ready for next year,” said Cllr O’Dell.

“They had the whole summer to fix it, and the kids have had nowhere to play. It’s a truly local park.

“The kids have lost somewhere they used to go. There’s very little space in walking distance, just one football pitch for the older kids, but apart from there there’s nothing else.”

And, as with the rickety climbing frame, Cllr O’Dell said the damaged equipment was an accident waiting to happen.

“Kids have been playing on the broken roundabout as there’s only tape to stop people going on it,” he added.

To prevent the play area being targeted again, Mrs Holmes suggested installing CCTV to deter mischief-makers of any sort.

“I strongly feel there should be CCTV cameras over there,” she said.

“We have seen kids doing vandalism, and since the council taped the dog poo bin up, they are just trusting people to pick it up, which they’re not doing.”

Harrow Council has been contacted for comment.