BILL AITKEN dreads Monday mornings - not because he is work-shy but because it is his job to inspect Fareham's parks for damage cause by vandals.

And Monday's are always the worst.

Yesterday the Daily Echo accompanied Bill on his regular route of the borough's 41 play areas to see first hand what damage is being done.

The destruction began at the first play area we visited off Eastern Parade where Bill showed us an area of soft safety surface that had been burned away by vandals exposing the hard concrete underneath.

Bill, 56, said: "We have put wood chippings in to protect the children using the swings because if they came off and hit the concrete they could be seriously hurt.

"It looks like it has been ripped or burnt out but now it's there other kids will just come along and make it worse."

In the eight years he has been the park inspector for Fareham Bill said the problem has got significantly worse.

"We have had to remove two play areas because the damage was getting bad, and take down three more to rebuild later.

"It is not just the graffiti either, I would say fire damage is the worst sort but the type of damage is getting worse. One morning I found a slide that had been covered with glue and broken glass stuck into it. If a child had just slid down it they would have been very seriously cut. It is just vicious.

"A lot of them now also carry tools with them for their skateboards and quite often they have used them to unscrew slides and climbing equipment so that when the children use them they are unsafe."

Bill then showed us another park in Hill Head that had been damaged with an axe or knife where chunks had been taken out of the posts leaving splintered wood dangerously exposed.

He explained how he patches the parks up as best he can but sometimes it can take weeks to get contractors in to resurface the areas.

"I don't want to have to take this equipment away because it's for the children to use, but if it's not safe they I can't let them. I just don't think the people that do this have any respect.

"One time I was spat at by a group of teenagers after I asked them to move off the swings so a young child could use them. It is like walking into hell sometimes."

Bill said he hoped the vandalism taskforce launched last week by the council and Hampshire police and backed by the Daily Echo would deter young vandals.

If you have been a victim of vandalism contact the Daily Echo office at Fareham on 01329 285503.

Residents can report vandalism to Fareham Council by texting or sending a photo message on 07876 131415 or to the police at Fareham on 0845 045 4545.