'Children devastated by park train destruction'
The man who donated a children's train to Abington Park after the first one was burned down said youngsters are devastated after the latest one was destroyed.
The children's train was torched by yobs on Sunday night in the third blaze at the Northampton park since 2003.
It came less than five months after nursery owner Tom Shea donated the 10,000 train to the park to replace the one which was burned down in April.
Surveying the charred remains of the train yesterday, he said: "The children are devastated. They were all so pleased when it came back, so to see it go again is terrible.
"It seems some people just seem to get their kicks out of doing this sort of thing, which is terribly sad."
One of the main campaigners for improvements to the park, the owner of the Abington Park Cafe, Tony Ansell, led calls for the last train to be replaced, but he said he now believed it should not be brought back.
He said: "What can you say? There really should have been CCTV down there.
Popular children's train destroyed again - original story and your comments - click here
"The fact there wasn't made it inevitable this was going to happen.
"So I don't think they should replace it this time. It's just asking for trouble."
The county councillor for the area, Councillor Maureen Hill (Con, Weston) added: "I was just dismayed when I heard about it.
"For this to happen so soon after it was last set on fire is terrible.
"I can understand people saying it shouldn't be brought back, but that would just be giving in to the vandalism."
Northampton Borough Council has said it has not yet decided if the train will be replaced.
But the council's cabinet member for the environment, Councillor Trini Crake (Lib Dem, Boughton Green), said something would be done.
She said: "We will not be beaten by these mindless vandals so, rest assured, something will go in its place."
Officers from Northamptonshire Police have asked anyone who knows how the fire broke out to call them on 08453 700700.
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Tributes paid to Niamh Curry as brave five-year-old loses battle against cancer
- BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner dies after collision at Northampton shopping centre
- Man tied to tree and beaten on Northampton Racecourse
- BREAKING NEWS: Seven-year-old boy dies following house fire in Northamptonshire
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Staff strike at Northampton school over academy plans forces closure
- Saints’ stadium plans get support as long as traffic issues solved
- Eastern European pupils helping school standards across Northampton
- Vow to crack down on anti-social behaviour across Northampton’s eastern district
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
