DidcotTown Council has put up a £500 reward in a bid to catch arsonists who wrecked a children's play area.

The wood and steel multi-play unit -- including two slides, a tunnel, climbing frame and climbing wall -- cost £15,000 to install at Smallbone Recreation Ground seven years ago. It was destroyed at midnight last Thursday along with most of the surrounding safety surface, which will cost at least £20,000 to replace.

Fire officers are investigating how the fire started, but police said an empty firelighters packet was found at the scene.

Sub-officer Ian Connel, of Didcot fire station, said: "By the time we arrived, the mainly wooden play unit was burning like a bonfire.

"The rubberised safety surface was inflammable and caused the fire to burn fiercely."

Police are becoming increasingly concerned at a spate of fires believed to have been started deliberately at children's play areas across Didcot including Edmonds Park, Ladygrove Country Park and two previous fires at Smallbone Recreation Ground.

Young trees were broken to make a bonfire in a litterbin at the town's new £42,000 skateboard area due to be officially opened by the town mayor, Jeremy Goff, at Ladygrove Park on Sunday.

Police suspect a small group of young people -- possibly only one -- may be carrying out the arson attacks, and that friends and families are likely to know the culprits.

Insp Chris Parker said he welcomed the town council's initiative in offering a reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction following the fire.

He said: "I'm sure some people will have their suspicions. We would welcome a call on 01235 516815.

"The damage to play equipment at Smallbone Recreation Ground is a serious drain on money spent for the benefit of children in the town."

At this week's meeting of the town council, environment committee chairman Bill Atkinson said the authority had been planning to replace the multi-unit play equipment at Smallbone Recreation Ground with new equipment costing £23,000.

But he warned that it might not now be able to afford the refurbishment as the cost of the scheme depended on installing new equipment on the existing safety surface which had been destroyed.

Fellow councillor Capt John Flood deplored the "wanton damage" while pointing out that the arsonist or arsonists must have given a lot of thought to ensuring the fire would cause such extensive damage.