Tube slide damaged in arson attack at park

Police urged those responsible to come forward

A fire that broke out at a tube slide in a country park is believed to have been started deliberately, the fire service and police have said.

Crews were called to Alver Valley Country Park in Lee-on-the-Solent on Wednesday at about 17:30 BST.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service thanked people for calling its control room to report the fire "so quickly" and said it was not "the first time the children's play park and surrounding woodland has been targeted by arson".

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said the fire was being treated as arson and urged those responsible to come forward.

Officers at Gosport Central, investigating the fire, said: "It is clear the act of a few has, and will clearly effect a lot of you as we approach the half-term where you will have been using that space with your children.

"There is already information that may help us identify the offenders and so I would also urge those people responsible to come forward before we come knocking on your door."