ARSONISTS destroyed part of a brand new fitness trail at a popular park just a month after it opened.

Braintree Council staff alerted the fire service to the blaze, at John Ray Park, in St Johns Avenue, Braintree, last Thursday at 9.05am.

Two parallel rows of tyres, used as part of the new fitness trail, were alight and a bench within the park was vandalised.

One fire crew from Braintree was called to the scene and managed to extinguish the fire by 9.23am.

Council staff then cleared up the mess and worked to make the area safe for residents until new equipment can be installed.

The tyres are expected to be replaced within four weeks.

Wendy Schmitt, councillor responsible for environment and place, said: “We’re doing our best to repair the equipment following this criminal damage but I cannot understand why anyone would want to damage such a fantastic community resource set in a beautiful park.”

The fitness trail, opened in July and includes overhead rings, dip bars, a pull-up station, balance boards and beam, angled stride jumps and tyre steps to help strengthen bones and muscles. A new cycle way was also opened in the park around the same time as the fitness trail.

The improvements to the park were funded by developers’ contributions to infrastructure in the area, and are part of Braintree Council’s push to improve the physical health and wellbeing of residents around the district.

Peter Tattersley, councillor responsible for health and communities, said: “Since opening we’ve had some wonderful comments from residents saying that it is so nice to have somewhere to exercise outdoors for free.

“Although the fire has put part of the much-loved fitness trail out of use the rest of it is very much open and I’d encourage local residents and fitness groups to show their support by continuing to use this wonderful facility.”

Essex Fire and Rescue Service has recorded the cause of the fire as deliberate.

Lynette Bowers-Flint, councillor responsible for planning and housing, said: “The timing of the fire means that someone must have seen something. If anyone has any information connected to this wanton act of vandalism please do get in touch with Essex Police.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police were called to reports of a fire in a small play area near John Ray Park off Station Approach, Braintree at around 9.30am on Thursday, August 24.

“Tyres in the fitness trail area in the park had been set alight. It is being treated as arson.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.