A CHILDREN'S play area has been attacked by vandals.

Volunteers at Walcot Down Community Centre returned from the Christmas break to find the fence around the play area ripped down.

Now the centre cannot afford to replace the six-foot fence, which was put up by volunteers.

Centre manager Andrea Magill said: "It's absolutely heart-breaking.

"They've ripped three-quarters of the fence down and thrown it everywhere.

"It's supposed to keep the play area safe for the children.

"It's abysmal and we can't afford to put it back up. I don't know what will happen when the children come back, whether they will be allowed to go out or not."

The centre looks after 22 pre-school children every weekday morning but the youngsters do not return until Monday.

Mrs Magill was particularly upset as she has worked to help open a football pitch and basketball court in Buckhurst Field for older children, who she thought might be responsible for the damage.

She said: "I wouldn't mind but there's a football pitch and basketball nets for them to use."

Mrs Magill was also worried that the equipment in the area as well as the centre itself may be vandalised now that the fence is destroyed.

She said: "We felt it was more secure. It stopped our windows being smashed so our insurance went down. And it provided somewhere safe for the children.

'You have to think about these things these days.

"Now we're going to have to watch that people don't vandalise the playhouse and the train."

The fence was put up by Blackfords in 2003 as part of a volunteer effort to create a safe playground for the centre.

Mrs Magill did not know how much it would cost to replace it but said the centre had no funds available.

The fence was damaged between December 23 and Tuesday, January 4. Anyone with any information about the vandalism should call Swindon Police on 01793 528111.