Suspected arsonist strikes at Holbury Manor wild play park

A BLAZE which ruined wooden equipment at a play park in Holbury is suspected to have been started by an arsonist, said firefighters.

Emergency services were called by neighbours who spotted the fire at the park at around 6pm.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service sent a crew from Hardley who extinguished the flames before informing police it had likely been started deliberately.

Resident Kate Mellor said she was angry about the “pointless destruction”, saying: “Our girls love playing there and it is has obviously been created by really skilled people. It is just so sad.”

The item set alight was part of a wild play park in Warren Copse opened in 2018 by Fawley Parish Council with support from the national park authority.

Kate posted photos on social media where other locals condemned those responsible. One said: “Why oh why? Who benefits from wanton destruction?”

One parent said: “This is sad, my little boy loves playing there” while another said: “Sad for the play area to be ruined but if this had spread the whole wood could have gone up. So senseless,”

Features at the play park include a wooden fort, balancing logs, a carved lizard, tunnel, bug hotel and seating area.

Parish council chair Cllr Alan Alvey called the arson attack "appalling".

He added: "This was a community facility into which a lot of effort was put into creating and now it has been destroyed by mindless idiots.

"We will need funding to replace what has been burnt and we don't know when, or if we will get that. It is so sad as so many children loved playing there."

A spokesperson for Hampshire police told the A&T: “We received a call from the fire service at 7.17pm on 1st February reporting an arson incident at a park on Holbury Drove.

“Following an investigation this case has been filed pending further or new information, at which point it may be reopened.”