A Fair Oak playground has been closed after killjoy yobs turned it into a late-night drinking den.

Glass from broken bottles was scattered across the slide and playing surface, making it unsafe for young children to play.

Local residents had been kept awake until the early hours of the morning by a foul-mouthed din coming from the Dean Road playground.

When they tried talking to the youngsters concerned they claim they received a torrent of abuse.

It is the first time in the village's history that a playground has had to be closed down because of antisocial behaviour.

It the latest incident in a wave of vandalism that has plagued the Fair Oak and Horton Heath area.

Parish council clerk Cheryl Gosling said: "The parish council took over the playground from the borough council in May, 2002 and it has been a trouble spot ever since."

She explained it had become a drinking den littered with empty bottles and cans.

Fences had been broken down and play equipment damaged, with the village authority having to pick up the tab, believed to be hundreds of pounds.

The parish council, which had monitored complaints from local residents, has considered using CCTV cameras or a security patrol to combat the vandalism.

The parish clerk added: "We looked at various options but after taking advice from the police we decided that the playground should be closed.

"It was sad that we had to do this but we could no longer protect the play area."

But she said it would go back to being a grass area and would remain an open space for young people under the age of 12.

In the latest parish newsletter, council chairman Councillor Helen Douglas has slammed the "tiny minority of people" who were causing trouble.

She said that children, some as young as eight, had been seen gathering in various spots in the village, drinking, swearing and intimidating others.

A villager had seen a newly built wall outside the Sandy Lane shops demolished only six hoursafter being rebuilt.

Councillor Douglas has appealed to villagers to rally round and help crack down on the rowdy behaviour.

She said: "Please do not ignore this behaviou. With a concerted effort we can eliminate antisocial behaviour from our community. Call the parish office or the police with information so we can act on it quickly."

Mr Gordon Rees, who lives near the Dean Road play area, said it was shame that the children's swings had to be taken away but was glad peace had been restored.

But he said that something had to be done to tackle the vandal problem. He added: "As it became dark they would congregate and sit on the swings. Eggs were thrown at windows. I had a window broken by a bottle."