IT’S impossible to say whether burns left on the new artificial cricket surface at Moredon Playing Fields were vandalism or an accident.

We’re inclined to think it was the latter.

Like many towns and cities, Swindon has plenty of direct experience when it comes to suffering acts of vandalism, and the scorch marks left on the cricket surface do not bear the typical hallmarks of wanton destructiveness.

What happened at Moredon is far more likely to have been the result of inattentiveness and ignorance. The culprits appear to have been people holding barbecues. Perhaps they momentarily forgot they were on an artificial surface, or else didn’t realise that surface wasn’t fire resistant.

It’s even possible that the culprits left the scene without realising quite how much permanent damage they had inflicted.

While they should be condemned for their stupidity, there is some comfort in the knowledge that this important local leisure site isn’t at the mercy of vandals.

We can only hope that everybody who hears about what has happened will be deterred from cooking so much as a single burger anywhere near the cricket surface.

The cost of repairing the damage has been put at about £900, which is to be split between the council and the English Cricket Board. The council, especially, can ill afford such an expense - one which should never have arisen in the first place.

Whenever we use any sort of community facility, we should remember that it belongs not just to us but to every other resident.

We should therefore do everything in our power to ensure we leave these places as we find them.

Of course, most of us don’t need reminding of the fact, but there’s no harm in issuing reminders where clearly necessary.