VANDALS have damaged a children's climbing frame at Murray's Road Junior School in Douglas.

The damage was caused over a period of several months, with the latest attack happening this month.

Headteacher Steve Taylor said: "The climbing frame has a suspended bridge. Each step is supported by nylon ropes either side.

"The vandals cut through nine of the ropes and they must have used a saw or similar, as inside each nylon rope is a steel core.

"The children can no longer use the affected part of the climbing frame and it will cost the school's Parent Teacher Association close to £1,000 to replace it. It is only three years old.

"As a result of a PTA initiative in 2007 the whole school pulled together to raise £16,000 to get this climbing frame installed.

"It has been repeatedly attacked but what is worrying is the level of forethought that has gone into it, which means that someone wants to cause malicious damage without care for the children.

"The way it has been cut they have left shards of sharp wire left exposed so that part of the frame has had to be cordoned off and is unusable."

Anyone with information about the attacks should contact Constable Paddy Moore on 631212.

Fed-up pupils of Murray’s Road Primary School inspect the damaged climbing frame. From left: Year 3 pupils Harry Whitelegg, Pedro Moitas, Lucy Watson and Reema Hameed Sulthan, all aged 8