PLAY equipment which had been in place for less than a week has been vandalised in Cwmbran.

The new play area at Cwmbran Boating Lake, near Llantarnam, features an electronic 'spider' climbing frame, as well as a rope climbing frame which appears to have been burned and is now cordoned off.

Torfaen councillor Fiona Cross, member for Coed Eva, tweeted pictures of the damaged equipment.

She said: "It's only been installed for a week. I took my daughter and son there last week and so many friends on Facebook have been putting pictures up because they were excited to go there.

"I went down on Monday and you could see the parents and children were slightly stunned and confused, and genuinely gutted."

The area was officially opened on March 22 by Cllr John Cunningham, executive member for neighbourhood services, who described the lake and surrounding area as a valuable community asset.

He said today: "It was extremely shocking and disheartening to learn what had happened to the new play equipment over the weekend.

"I unveiled the new facility barely over a week ago, local school children turned up at the launch and they absolutely loved the new play area and the facilities there.

"It’s so disappointing to think there are mindless individuals who think nothing of destroying brand new equipment designed for children and the fact it happened in half term makes it even worse.

“I would urge anyone with information to contact Gwent Police on 101.”

Improvements at the lake included the creation of a wet woodland and island habitat, upgrading the surface around the lake, and repair works to the lake edge as well as the new boat house with catering and toilet facilities.

A Gwent Police spokesman said the force received a report from a member of the public at 8.16pm on Sunday that a young man attempting to set light to play equipment in the park on Llanfrechfa Way, Cwmbran.

Officers attended but the man had left the area having damaged one of the climbing frames.

Anyone with information or who witnessed the incident, contact Gwent Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting Log 423 31/03/13.