Councillor slams vandals who damaged a Greenock playpark.

Councillor Jim McEleny says his son had been out walking the dog when he noticed damage to the flooring at the playpark in Overton.

It's believed the damage was caused on Monday night.

He says it is disappointing after residents fundraised and fought hard to get the park refurbished.

The council invested between around £50,000 in the project to get the work done back in 2009.

Cllr McEleny, pictured, said: "It's wanton vandalism.

"People come from all over to enjoy this park.

"It's fenced off and far from the road, so it's a very safe environment.

"We have buses of children and playgroups come to play here.

"The residents of Overton did a lot of fundraising over the years to get to the point where the council also invested money to upgrade the park and make it a great facility for all, and it is well used.

"The question I would like to ask to parents and carers is 'do you know where your kids were and what they got up to on Monday night?'

"Inverclyde people, through their council tax, will have to find the money for repairs.

"That's money that will be taken from other areas of service."

Two areas of the rubber matting have been dug up and Cllr McEleny has now asked police and wardens to monitor the area.

He said: "I don't believe it is kids from Overton who are responsible.

"It's not just an Overton problem it's an Inverclyde problem.

"It is the parents' responsibility to eradicate this.

"I have not seen kids hanging about at the park at night but I have seen remains of alcohol and I have asked community wardens to up their patrols."

Mum Karis McAlinden, of nearby Glen Kinglas Road, told the Tele she was so disappointed to see the damage.

She added: "It's terrible, senseless.

"It's practically our back garden, my wee boy uses it every day.

"He and his classmates play here after school.

"This spoils it for the weans."

Her son Tyler Greene, who is six, said: "It makes me feel sad."

A spokesman for Inverclyde Council says repairs have now been carried out.

He added: “It is particularly distressing to see vandalism at play areas.

"They are for children to enjoy and have fun.

"This sort of vandalism hurts the local community.

"The cash the council has to spend repairing play equipment could be better spent on providing local people with the services they need.

"There have also been cases where we’ve had to remove equipment because it was persistently vandalised and this means vandals are depriving local children of play facilities.

"If anyone has any information about who is responsible they should call Police Scotland on 101.”