Police hope new CCTV cameras will stop Market Drayton vandalism

It comes after vandals once again damaged Market Drayton's Newport Road toilets and left litter by the skate park, which lie next to each other.

Market Drayton Town Council officially opened the new £150,000 skate park last month.

The project was last year awarded £75,000 from Sports England, while a further £80,000 was pledged towards the scheme by the town council to revamp its 15-year-old facility.

Constable Mick Sturland, of the Market Drayton Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "Any new attraction aimed specifically at the younger generation will always attract an element of anti social behaviour.

"We supported the town council with its plans for the park and see the vast majority of young people enjoying it responsibly.

"We have paid increased attention to the area and would encourage anyone, especially skate park users, to report damage and anti social behaviour to us.

"Hopefully the erection of CCTV will deter further damage."

Last week the public toilets next to the skate park were closed after all the basins in the female toilets were smashed and wet toilet roll was thrown on the ceiling and walls.

Councillor Matthew Erwin, mayor of Market Drayton, said: "Angered, saddened, dismayed, these are some polite descriptions of my feelings regarding the vandalism at the Newport Road toilets.

"This time washbasins have been smashed, previously: pipes torn down, obscenities spray-painted, flower troughs damaged.

"It will remain closed until further notice.

"Sadly these events are not localised to the new skate park and are not just a problem for our town."

The town's council has expressed dismay at the latest vandalism, saying the repeated incidents are "disheartening and discouraging" for its staff.

The latest incident comes just weeks after work was completed on refurbishing the toilets to make them more secure.

The public toilets on Newport Road have been frequently damaged this year and previously the town council said they could be shut permanently if they were consistently vandalised.

In July they were shut for nearly two weeks due to extensive damage.

Julie Jones, clerk of Market Drayton Town Council, said she is currently working on getting CCTV installed at the Newport Road car park in the town, which will cover the toilets and the new skate park.

She said it may cost more than £1,000 to repair the latest damage.

Anyone with information on either incident can call police on 101.

Alternatively people can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org