IT IS one of the longest heatwaves Swindon has seen for several years, but children have been unable to cool down after a much-loved water park was closed.

Dozens of families have been left disappointed after turning up to Coate Water’s Splash Park armed with towels and sun cream only to be greeted by a sign saying the park is closed for vital repair works.

In the hot weather the park should be heaving with children running through the jets of water to cool off, but instead the park is deserted, with no sign of work taking place.

Swindon Council said that due to the recent high use of the park a grille has come loose and it is unsafe to let children play with an unprotected hole.

Stacey Bird, 27, of Moredon headed to the park yesterday with her two-year-old son Lucas and friends Sonny and Corey, both two. But they were left disappointed when they were greeted by the sign.

Stacey said: “We came with towels and everything, ready for a nice afternoon out but we had no idea it was closed.

“We are really disappointed because there is nothing else like it in Swindon and in this weather it is ideal for the children.

“I think it is bad that they have not let people know it is closed until they get here.”

Chris Fegan, 33, had travelled all the way from Corsham for the water park with son Harry, two.

He said: “It is very frustrating that it is closed, especially when we have travelled so far with a hot child in the back of the car.”

The interactive splash park for children, with water-spitting dragons and flowers, opened in July last year at a cost of £120,000. The free attraction has proved popular with families since it opened but has suffered its first setback this week.

A spokesman for the council said: “We are as frustrated as everyone else that the splash park isn’t able to be used in the current weather.

“Unfortunately during the heavy use it had last week, one of the grilles over the filtering system was broken, and there is now a large unprotected hole which means we can’t open the site for safety reasons.

“The parts to repair it have been ordered and we are aiming to have it back in action in the middle of next week.

“Hopefully the weather will still be fine when it re-opens.”

Meanwhile children were having a splashing time cooling off at the Orbital Shopping Park.

Yvette Cummings, of Bishopstone, was there with her son Tristan, three, who was enjoying playing in the water with the other children.

She said: “We have come here specifically for this.

“The weather is so hot, it is great to have this facility here for the children.