An appeal is also being made for the arsonist or arsonists responsible for the blaze which destroyed the wooden structure – housing a climbing frame and slide – on Goosnargh Village Green, to make themselves known to police.
Residents in Goosnargh and Whittingham are furious after a person was spotted setting fire to the wooden structure and the villages' community beat officer, PC Chris Banks says witnesses have already come forward reporting having spotted a man dressed in dark clothing, with a hoodie top, pulling a wheelie bin from the nearby village hall onto the play area around 2.30am to 3am on Wednesday, June 17.
The man then positioned the bin under the wooden structure before setting its contents alight, the blaze taking hold of the frame within minutes. And it is also believed a witness spotted the arsonist taking photos of his handiwork.
Fire fighters were called out to tackle the blaze - which is now estimated estimated to have caused £11,000 of damage – and council officials demolished the remaining structure after declaring it unsafe.
This means part of the play area, so enjoyed by scores of children every day, will be out of action for the forseeable future.
PC Banks described everyone is "outraged" and he is appealing for anyone with further information to contact him at Broughton Police Station on 01772 863390.
"Some people have spoilt something for the entire village and they don't understand the impact it will have on the youngsters who use this play area on a daily basis," said PC Banks.
Notices appealing for further information have been put up around the villages and leaflets distributed to
addresses, but PC Banks said yesterday: "We have heard nothing. Someone must know something."
"We have been fighting for a long time to get the play area improved on this park, and this sort of behaviour, if it is someone local, beggars belief," he said, adding that if it was someone local, he would appeal to them to come forward or for any others, who may know of the identity of the culprit, to have the courage to come forward.
Meanwhile, moves to improve the play area continue, and all interested parties, who will form the friends' group, are being invited to a meeting at Goosnargh Oliverson's School on July 7 at 7pm.