Parents have complained about the dreadful state of the two children’s play areas in one of Ashford’s main parks.

Conditions in the playgrounds at Victoria Park were brought to our attention by worried parents, concerned over damaged safety surfaces, vandalism, graffiti and overflowing litter bins.

The Kentish Express has launched a Clean Victoria campaign that demands something is done urgently to improve the Victoria Park playgrounds.

We were alerted to damage and vandalism to the park’s two children’s playgrounds by father-of-three Mark Smith, 37, who was disgusted with the conditions on a recent visit he made with his two sons, Harvey, aged two, and Kieron, six.

Mr Smith of Otterden Close, Stanhope, said: “The whole state of the park play area is a joke and is nothing to be proud of.

“I used to play there as a child, it has got worse. We need a gated play area with it being locked at night. I think the council should look at this.”

Paul Jackson, head of environmental services at Ashford council, said: “The latest outbreak of litter and anti-social behaviour has coincided with the school holidays and the first hot weekend of the year.

“However, even taking this into consideration the level of litter and vandalism has been far more this year than in any other.”

The council says it is stepping up litter clean-ups and bin emptying around the play areas and is considering installing more bins.

It has also asked for greater police presence during late afternoons and early evenings.

For more about the Clean Victoria campaign, see this week's Kentish Express