VANDALS have struck at a newly installed play area in Musselburgh, forcing a section of it to be fenced off due to fire damage.

The new play area at Pinkiehill Crescent, which was only completed in July last year, has recently been targeted by vandals.

A council spokeswoman said that the toddlers' section had now been fenced off because of fire damage.

The rest of the play area remains open but the council is urging members of the public not to try to use the toddlers’ section until repairs can be carried out – there is not yet a timescale for when this might take place.

The police and the council's anti-social behaviour team have been made aware of the vandalism.