A leisure park has told parents and their kids to stay away from a playground or risk getting fined.

Swanley Park in New Barn Road locked its play park last week as it heeded government advice to close its attractions to the public in light of the coronavirus outbreak.

But it appears several people ignored the memo as supervisors reported seeing parents lifting their children over the shut gates.

In a post on its Facebook page it wrote: "This message is for people who are still using our play equipment despite the fact we have chained the gates shut.

"The virus can survive up to 72 hours on metal, but even if it was just four hours you are putting yourselves and your children at risk by letting them use the equipment.

"Lifting your children over the fences show little regard for their wellbeing, or your own.

"Fine start from £30 but are unlimited. Do the decent thing, stay away."

It follows a spate of vandalism at the park last week in which three childrens' swings were reported to have been cut down, as well as various allotments broken into.

Last year, the park's wardens said a wheelchair friendly swing worth £30,000 had been attacked just two weeks after it was installed.

Now the park says it will be photographing anyone it sees disobeying the rules and informing the police.

Steve Nash, chief executive officer for Swanley Town Council said the warning seems to have had an immediate effect with no further offences since.

He said: "On Wednesday, there was half a dozen families out with small children lifting the kids over.

"Unfortunately, the staff could not stop them immediately. We will be taking photographs and passing those onto the police."

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