A FIRE at a children’s play park in Poole is believed to have been started deliberately.

The fire caused substantial damage to the play equipment in Alexandra Park in Parkstone in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Officers were called to reports of play equipment on fire at around 2.20am.

Four people were reportedly seen leaving the park shortly after the incident.

Police are urging witnesses to come forward and for residents to check their home CCTV systems as part of their investigations.

Read more: Community shock as fire tears through children's play park destroying equipment

Police Constable Demar Rowe, of Poole police, said: “This play park is used by so many children and unfortunately it will now be closed for some time while it is repaired.

“I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area, or knows who was responsible for this mindless damage, to please contact Dorset Police.

“We have received reports that four people were seen to leave the park shortly after the incident and I would please ask anyone with home CCTV systems in that area to please check their footage and contact us if they find anything that may assist our investigation.

"Officers from the local neighbourhood policing team are aware of the incident and can be approached with any concerns."

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called to Alexandra Park on Alexandra Road, Poole at 2.36am on Sunday morning after reports of the children’s play park being on fire. One crew from Westbourne attended and used one hose reel jet to extinguish, with the stop coming at 3.20am.”

The spokesperson said other than a slide, another piece of park equipment and the adjacent rubber flooring were destroyed and that the fire was believed to deliberate.

On Monday afternoon (January 24), Poole Neighbourhood Policing Team and Community Safety Accreditation Scheme officers carried out reassurance patrols in and around the park – while putting up antisocial behaviour posters.

The posters feature a QR code and officers have urged members of the public to use the code on their smartphones to report any antisocial behaviour incidents in the area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk/do-it-online, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55220013278.

Alternatively, to stay 100 per cent anonymous, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers online at Crimestoppers-uk.org or call Freephone 0800 555 111.