Car abandoned and torched in playground
A CAR was abandoned and set alight in a Swansea children’s playground – just months after the site had thousands of pounds worth of equipment installed.
Fire crews were called to the blaze in Waunarlwydd Park, off Victoria Road, shortly after 9pm on Sunday.
The vehicle had been left burning close to equipment installed at the venue last August, at a cost of £43,000.
And although the equipment escaped any damage, the fire raised concerns for the safety of residents in nearby residential home, Ty Victoria.
Cockett councillor Wendy Lewis said: “I went rushing down the park when I heard about the car fire, and the fire service was already putting it out.
“It was horrendous. There were no plates on the car.
“But what upset me was it was just a few feet away from the home.
“I was thinking, if there was damage to the playground equipment that wouldn’t be good, but more importantly how many residents are in that home.
“Some of them would be vulnerable.
“We’ve never had anything like that there before.
“We were told it would be taken away today, but it is still there, and children will be leaving school and going to play in the park.
“They are going to be curious about it, and may try climbing over it, and it’s not safe.”
Waunarlwydd resident Richie Rees added: “The fire caused the windows to pop out, and the glass is lying around in the mud, which is an obvious danger to children.
“It is just mindless. If people had to do this, they could have left it away from residential properties and a playground.”
A spokesman for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters from Swansea West attended the incident, in which the vehicle was completely destroyed, after being called just before 9.15pm.
They left the 9.51pm.
A South Wales Police spokesman added: “We were called to reports of a car fire in Victoria Road at 9.15pm last night (Sunday).
“Inquiries are ongoing and anyone with information should contact 101 quoting occurrence 2000093442.” site at