Park swings stolen within days of being put in

A grandmother has described how children were "in tears" after new playground equipment was stolen from a Liverpool park less than two days after being installed.

Gill Burdekin, 68, lives opposite Poets Park in Bootle, where two large basket swings - otherwise known as witches hats - were stolen off their frames on Saturday and Sunday last week.

"Some of the kids were crying," Gill said. "They loved them and needed something like this, and its just been taken from them."

The swings were put in by Green Sefton and Sefton Council on Thursday and Saturday last week. A council spokesperson described the incident as an "incredible shame" and said the theft had been reported to police.

Grandmother-of-six Gill said she usually visited Poets Park three times a day, to walk her dog and to do her regular "patrols" of the park, clearing up litter and keeping the area nice for the children.

"It's the nicest park around," she told BBC Radio Merseyside. "It's a community park and everybody comes, of all ages.

"We have two schools in the area who regularly use it", she said, adding it would be busy all through the summer.

She said the arrival of the two basket swings at the park was part of a wider plan to renovate the park's play areas, and had meant a lot to the children.

"The first one was put in and the kids loved it," Gill said. "They were made up.

"We haven't had new kit at the park in forever, and the kids were all queuing up waiting to go on it, swinging their dolls in it... they absolutely adored it.

A second basket swing was set up two days later at the park, but that evening one of the baskets was taken from its frame.

Less than 24 hours later, the second basket was taken, and by Monday morning, both frames were empty.

"I couldn't believe it," Gill said. "That someone had stolen something off the youngsters.

"The last one that went on the Sunday wasn't even up 24 hours.

Gill said she originally thought the swings had been moved by the council temporarily.

"Some of the kids were crying at the park asking their mums where the swings had gone," she said.

"For somebody to even think of taking two of them, it's unbelievable that somebody would do that.

"They've taken it off the kids."

Sefton Council said: "We can confirm that newly installed play equipment has been stolen at Poets Park, Bootle.

"It is an incredible shame that individuals have chosen to take equipment which had been installed for children to enjoy in the park.

"The equipment in question was a pair of basket swings which are designed to be accessible for toddlers and young children with disabilities.

"The theft has been reported to the police.

"Green Sefton staff will continue with the renovation of Poets Park, but unfortunately the opening of the renovated play areas will now be delayed."

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