An outdoor gym has been closed after suspected arsonists set fire to it.

The soft ground and some of the exercise equipment were damaged in the blaze, which happened at around 7.30pm yesterday in Great Chart, Ashford.

Fire crews attended the incident - believed to have been started deliberately - and it has also been reported to the police.

It appears some sort of substance was used to set the floor alight.

But the fire last night came just 48 hours after another fire at the field in which a picnic table was completely destroyed on Saturday night.

The affected areas at Great Chart Playing Fields, off Singleton Road, are closed to the public, as the parish council put actions into place to fix the damage.

The vandalism comes as a particular blow as the outdoor gym was only installed in January this year.

It is also the second time a picnic table has been set alight.

Aniko Szocs, parish clerk at Great Chart With Singleton Parish Council, said: "It is devastating.

"The play area was put in January this year, and it was a welcomed addition by the locals.

"This is very upsetting not only for the parish council but everyone in the community.

"The parish council hopes a repair can be arranged soon so the equipment can be used again.

"It has been reported to the police.

"We would ask anyone who saw or heard anything to get in contact please."

Replacing the damaged equipment will come at a cost to the council.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue said of Monday's incident: "KFRS was called to recreation ground in Singleton Road, Great Chart at 7.42pm yesterday, to reports of a fire in an area of outdoor training equipment.

"One fire engine attended and the crew used a hose reel jet to put the fire out, which had spread to one piece of apparatus.

"The cause is believed to be deliberate."

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