Oxford: Fire breaks out at Blackbird Leys playground

Images shared with the Oxford Mail show a group of four people at the playground on Mistletoe Green in Blackbird Leys before the fire broke out on May 31 at around 8.30pm

An office chair was set alight and eventually burned out, pictures also show, damaging parts of a nearby tree in the process.

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The fire was put out by nearby residents with buckets of water, according to eyewitnesses.

Vija Radeem, who lives near the playground, said the playground is regularly used by teenagers to drink and smoke.

She said: “It's just awful, especially in a children's playground as I have a four-year-old. I am not sure what's next.

“But we do see teenagers here frequently in the playground drinking, smoking and leaving broken glass.

Images of a group gathered prior to the fire (Image: Vija Radeem)“We have to make sure kids are very careful in the playground so as not to cut themselves on the glass.”

Greg Owens, who also lives near the playground, said: “Unfortunately it's not unusual to have all sorts of household items, domestic rubbish and furniture dumped in the litter bins or around the Mistletoe Green play area and green.

“It's also been quite a long time since a fire was lit but bins have been set alight before.

“Solve the problem of the fly-tipping and it would more than likely solve the problem of the apparent casual vandalism that this latest fire represents.

“Obviously it's a very concerning thing to happen.

“It's a much loved green space by local residents and overlooked by quite a few residences which I think helps in preventing more incidents like this happening.”

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It comes two months after emergency services were called to Carterton Recreation Ground after receiving reports of a fire at a portacabin.

A 16-year-old boy had been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life after the fire at a recreation ground on Saturday, March 30 at around 7.55pm.

And a disturbing message was then left at a play park in Marcham where nails were glued to the swings.

The nails were discovered by a mum-of-five who had taken her youngest child to the park in the village near Abingdon on Monday, May 13.

The sharp objects had been left upright and attached to various play equipment such as swings and slides in the Marcham's village park near the community centre.

“Dear Marcham, no more f***ing music. I waited eight hours on Saturday. Final warning or else!”, the message read.

Thames Valley Police has been approached for a statement on the park fire in Blackbird Leys but the force said they were unable to find any reports relating to the incident.

Oxford City Council confirmed a member of their communities team visited the park last week to investigate but found no evidence of fire damage or remaining burnt material.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue have said they did not attend the incident on May 31.