'Reckless' youths get trapped in play park

Police said the time emergency services spent on the rescue "could have cost lives"

A group of teenagers had to be rescued after getting locked inside a children's play park when they hid from staff.

Cumbria Police said it was called to the new Shiver Me Timbers site in Maryport on Saturday.

Officers said about three youths "purposely evaded staff at closing" and wasted more than an hour of emergency service time, "which could have cost lives".

Stephen Ashworth, from Maryport Town Council, said the council "trusts that the parents of the perpetrators would explain to their children the recklessness of their actions".

He said the council "condemned such behaviour" and said the youths had "wasted the time of our emergency services and potentially put lives at risk".

Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to the scene but the crews were not needed.

Police said the park was for children aged under 12 and the youths had "played on all the equipment".

The Shiver Me Timbers play park opened in December as part of an ongoing regeneration scheme for the town.