A CHILDREN'S play area has been the scene of deliberate fires for two nights running.

Fire crews from Garston were called out around the same time Thursday, November 1, and Friday, November 2, to put out fires started at the children's play equipment at Park Avenue play area in Watford.

A tray filled with oil was the cause of the blaze at 10pm on Thursday. And around 11pm on Friday the crew arrived to find the climbing frame alight.

Each incident only took ten minutes to deal with, but a spokesman said the consequences run deeper than a waste of time.

He said: "Basically, they are not only depriving the children of their play things, and destroying things for the local community, plus it's an extra cost for the county council.

"It is a danger to themselves and means an emergency may have to be dealt with by fire engines further afield."

November 6, 2001 10:30