Fire crews were called to a play park in a Fife town on Monday morning after equipment was set ablaze.
A fire appliance attended Cowdenbeath Public Park on Tulloch Court around 3.30am after receiving reports of a fire.
The conflagration comes a month after the play park, which had not yet reopened to the public, received a £150,000 upgrade.
Local MP Melanie Ward said that the incident, which she labelled as vandalism, was a ‘disgrace’.
“It is unacceptable to see our treasured public places damaged deliberately,” she said.
“These are our shared spaces, and incidents like this in a children’s playpark only deepen the growing concern about anti-social behaviour here in Cowdenbeath – the number one issue raised with me when I was out speaking with residents on Saturday.”
Similarly, Cllr Linda Erskine, Fife Council’s spokesperson for communities and leisure, told STV: “I am deeply disappointed to learn of the fire at Cowdenbeath Public Park.
"The council recently completed a £150,000 refurbishment of the park, which was due to be officially opened in the coming weeks.
“Local families will understandably be devastated to see this happen in their community as it deprives children of a safe and welcoming place to play.
“Council officers are currently assessing the extent of the damage, and once this inspection is complete, we will determine the next steps.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 3.30am on Monday, January 26, to reports of a fire in the open on Tulloch Court, Cowdenbeath.
“Operations Control mobilised one appliance to the scene, where firefighters worked to extinguish the fire affecting the playpark’s furniture.
“Firefighters left at approximately 4am after making the area safe.”
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Last October, eight youths were charged in connection with incidents of disorder in the town.
On 21 October, police responded to reports of a fire being set deliberately around 5.30 PM near Cowdenbeath's Pit Road.
The police also attended a disturbance on Stenhouse Road around 9 PM, where an officer was assaulted.
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