Rugby playground owner 'heartbroken' over vandalism...

[dutchman]

Vandals destroyed toys and play equipment at the playground, causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage



The owner of a children's outdoor playground has said she was "absolutely heartbroken" to find it had been vandalised.

Sophie Winham, who owns Sprogs and Logs in Bilton, Rugby, had to close because of the extent of damage to the equipment and play space.

A GoFundMe page has now been set up to try and replace some of the broken toys and repair the damage.

Ms Winham, who arrived at the playground on Monday to open as usual when she saw the scale of the vandalism, said: "I'm a small business running purely to create happiness and lasting memories for young children and to find out my hard work has been destroyed is devastating."

She added: "This isn't like any previous time, this appears to be malicious and has resulted in a big loss.

"Equipment has been broken, countless toys damaged beyond repair and of course it means I cannot open at the moment. To say I'm gutted is an understatement."

Sprogs and Logs is based within Fenley Fields in Bilton and operates outdoors all year round for children aged up to seven years. The scale of the damage meant the business had to stay shut.

Ms Winham said she could not afford to carry out the repairs or replace the broken equipment herself and she had to close the business temporarily until the play area was fully restored and safe.

She added: "I just can't open in the state that it is. I have to open on December 20th as I have an event there but after that it will remain closed again until the fence has been fixed and the equipment has been replaced.

"I am beyond grateful that a GoFundMe has been set up to help us raise money for a new fence, and the replacement of toys and equipment."

Ms Winham estimates the cost to the business runs into several hundred pounds and has thanked everyone who has offered to help or who has donated to the GoFundMe page.