A GANG of vandals smashed up a skate park only hours after workers put the finishing touches to it.

The construction company involved spent Tuesday completing the skate park by using concrete blocks to seal up the tunnels underneath it.

But within two hours of leaving the site the concrete walls had been kicked down.

The Buckhurst Field skate park in Walcot was officially opened in December after the local community group raised £60,000 to create facilities for young people in the area.

Sara Slack, chairwoman of the Buckhurst Project Group which raised the funds, said: "This is such a shame as the skaters who use it absolutely love it.

"The construction company had kindly come back to fill in the gaps underneath the skate park, as we thought they could be dangerous.

"We couldn't believe it when a group of older boys kicked the concrete walls down only hours later.

"I don't think it was the skaters, but a group of children who don't skateboard.

"It's such a shame that people can be this mindless after all the work that was put in to get it built in the first place."

The Buckhurst Field skate park was one of the final projects to be completed under the Parks and East Walcot Regeneration scheme.

As well as the skate park, Buckhurst Field also has a new, fully enclosed ball court, new seating area, trees and flowers.

Coun Barrie Thompson (Lab, Parks and Walcot) said: "This is disgusting. How can anyone do this type of thing?

"It spits in the face of all those volunteers who worked selflessly to get it built in the first place.

"I hope the police catch the culprits."

Yesterday several skaters and cyclists were at the skate park enjoying the facilities.

Their general view was that it was ridiculous that someone would purposefully wreck something that had been put there for them.

Bob Johnson, of Sadlers Walk, has two boys aged 10 and 11 who use the skate park regularly.

He said: "A lot of kids come up here for the skate park. It's really good. I can't believe that someone would kick down these concrete blocks. It just shows a complete disrespect and is dangerous.

"It's the few spoiling it for the majority."

If anyone has any information about the vandalism they should contact Swindon Police on 0845 408 7000.