GUISELEY residents are being urged to help stop 'mindless' vandals and arsonists damaging a local park.

Trees, gateposts and benches were damaged and a fire was deliberately started at Parkinson's Park last weekend.

Firefighters were called out at about 10.40pm on Sunday night after someone had spotted suspicious activity and saw something alight.

It turned out to be a fire that had been started, using lighter fluid and cut down branches, near the beauty spot's top bench.

Luckily, the blaze was not serious and was extinguished quickly.

The incident, however, was the latest in a series of attacks at the site which had two 'insect hotels' destroyed by fire before Christmas and, more recently, a bird table taken and set alight.

It also happened against a backdrop of two other arson attacks in the town, at Guiseley Football Club and Guiseley Primary School, last week.

Jennifer Kirkby of the Friends of Parkinson's Park said: "Sunday's fire was extinguished after the Fire Service had been called out and it has been reported to the police.

"It was initially reported by people on Nethercliffe who saw the torches and could hear talking - so thank you to them for acting so quickly.

"Torches had been spotted in the park the night before and that turned out to have been someone who had been cutting down parts of a fir tree and moving them to a different spot.

"Then on Sunday night they used lighter fluid to set fire to the branches.

"They also kicked over the step fencing posts, shaved off parts of the gate post and broke the handrail - we've no idea why, it's just mindless vandalism."

A sharp wire saw - resembling a snare - was also found on Sunday morning in branches beside a path, to the alarm of the dog owner who discovered it.

The Friends group was due to meet a police officer on Wednesday night to seek advice, and has already launched its own Park Watch group.

Jennifer said: "We have set this up so we have a network of people living around the park who can all keep an eye out for trouble and contact each other if we need to act.

"So if anything happens we'll have all the escape routes covered, and we're also getting everyone with CCTV looking onto the park to check their footage."

Local MP Stuart Andrew (Con, Pudsey) added: "I was appalled to hear about the continuing problems at Parkinson’s Park, which is a real asset to our community.

"I have long supported the Friends in their tireless work to enhance and protect this vital green space and I’m glad to see residents are speaking to West Yorkshire Police about the situation.

"I hope they will take action to punish those responsible and prevent this terrible vandalism happening again."

*To join Park Watch send an e-mail to Parkinsonspark@gmail.com .