Teenage girls to be cautioned over Ulverston play area fire (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Teenage girls to be cautioned over Ulverston play area fire

4:51pm Friday 21st September 2012 in News

POLICE are to caution four teenage girls after they admitted starting a fire that caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to a community play area in Ulverston.

An investigation was launched by Cumbria Fire and Rescue after it was established that the blaze, in the early hours of July 15, had been started deliberately.

It destroyed a popular wooden castle feature that had been recently installed at a cost of £8,500 by South Lakeland District Council.

As a result of the investigation four teenage girls - two aged 12 and two 13 - were identified as being responsible.

The girls, all from the local area, admitted recklessly causing the damage after failing to call the Fire and Rescue Service when a fire they lit to keep warm got out of control.

Sergeant Rupert Johnston, of Ulverston Police, said: “I wish to thank the many members of the public who contacted us in relation to this incident and helped us to detect the crime. It has taken two months to get to the bottom of this and I’m pleased to say that the people responsible have been identified.

“The girls have been spoken to, along with their parents, and they have admitted lighting a fire that unfortunately got out of control and caused significant damage. They have been interviewed and received final warnings which will remain on their records into their adult lives. This means that if they commit another offence, they will be taken straight to court.

“The four girls and their parents will now have to go to the youth offending service who will address their offending behaviour.”