A SKATE PARK in Yate has been closed today after a car was set alight and abandoned there last night.

Police and firefighters were called to Peg Hill Skate Park after reports came in around 12.20am of a car on fire in the main bowl area of the site.

Firefighters from Yate tackled the blaze using a high pressure hose reel, but the fire had completely destroyed the vehicle.

The only information at this time is that the burnt out car was a Ford Fiesta, with very little else of it remaining, but a spokesman from Avon Fire and Rescue Service said that the fire is being treated as deliberate.

Phil Jones, parks supervisor for Yate Town Council confirmed that the remains of the car were removed from the skate park earlier this morning.

He said: “We believe they gained access to the skate park and drove the car around before ending up in the bowl.

“They must have caused some considerable damage and were unable to get it out, so they decided to torch it.

“From what we could see this morning during the clear up is that only a small amount of concrete has been damaged, which we will be able to pay to repair.”

Yate town councillor Chris Willmore said: "The skateboard park is so well used this sort of stupidity wrecks it for all the young people who just want to have fun.

"Fortunately mindless vandalism like this is rare. Many thanks to the town council staff who worked all day on repairing the bowl for users.

"If anyone knows anything about it, please let us know in confidence, so we can track down the idiots responsible."

A police spokesman said that their investigation is ongoing and that they are working it identify the vehicle.

If anyone has any information on the incident that could assist police inquiries, they have been asked to call 101 immediately, quoting reference 24 for today’s date.