Owners brand arson attack on children's pleasure park 'soul destroying'

Report by ITV Meridian's Derek Johnson

The owners of a children's pleasure park in Southampton say they are devastated after arsonists struck for the second time in two years.

Fire has destroyed the small railway which has been at the children's pleasure park in Bassett for decades, and is a favourite with young children.

Last time it was vandalised there was a huge community effort to help the park recover.

The owners woke up to find the railway, which is located in a corner of the park completely destroyed. And though firefighters saved what they could, the fire ravaged railway was severely damaged.

Fred Salter, manager of the park described the scene as devastating. Speaking to ITV Meridian, he said, "I was alerted last night that we had our second spate of vandalism. They came in last night and set fire to our beautiful Puffing Billy train ride.

"It's a little train ride for little kids, it's over 100 years old, it's given pleasure to many families. I's so devastating to see it destroyed."

Fred Salter, Manager of the Pleasure Park, Southampton:

He added, "We're not going to let them win, we will rebuild it and hopefully it will be going again for the summer.

"It's a very old ride. It was built by my father Donald Salter, and it's been so loved by so many people and it's one of our best rides. They built a party room at the top more than fifty years ago, we have had hundreds of parties for young children, and two years aho vandals came in and burnt that to the ground too.

"We've only really just recovered from that fire and now we're dealing with another one."

The pleasure park opened in 1976 by Donald and Betty Salter. Donald hand built the majority of the rides including the railway, with just common knowledge of construction and a lot of hard work and dedication.

Donald and Betty's children Fred and Gary Salter now run the park which is open all year round to families.

Gary Salter, Co-Manager of the Pleasure Park, Southampton:

Gary Salter said, "We run on a very tight budget, and to see this is just soul destroying. Last time we had some help, it was wonderful, but I'm a little bit lost for words at the moment."

The owners say they have contacted police about the incident are now hoping to reopen the park on Sunday as the clean up operation begins.