Residents have renewed calls for CCTV at the entrance to a park after recently-erected gates were damaged by a motorbike which was set on fire.

The incident has forced Wilmot Park, in Wilmot Road, Dartford to close as the padlocks are too charred to open.

Residents say they are furious following repeat anti-social behaviour at the green space.

West Hill Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator Garry Turner said: “It is depressing to see such blatant anti-social behaviour targeting Wilmot Park again.

“Thankfully the council put this front gate on the park last year, as I dread to think what damage it may have done if these vandals set fire to the bike near the new play equipment.

“We are grateful to be collaborating with West Hill councillors and I am sure that they will do all they can to try and escalate some form of multi-agency response to this persistent issue at the park.”

West Hill area councillor Drew Swinerd said anti-social behaviour is an ongoing issue at the park.

"Wilmot Park is a vital recreational facility for local residents and has become the target of persistent anti-social behaviour, of which this latest incident is the most serious.

“While I appreciate the pressures the police operate under, it is disappointing to park users and local residents that the police did not attend the scene for more than a day after the first reports, even after I had reported to them that it was affecting the reopening of the park. I would have expected people using a stolen bike to ram the park gates and then setting it alight would have warranted a quicker response.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Kent Police was called at 3.54am on July 6 to a report of a burnt-out motorbike in Wilmot Road, Dartford. A

“An officer attended at 9.02am and took details of the bike, which was later confirmed to be stolen. As is standard procedure Dartford Council was informed about the vehicle for them to arrange its recovery."

Last August, the neighbourhood watch team campaigned for the erection of the gates following reports of “gangs of youths” terrorising the playground late at night.

This was said to involve youths screaming and shouting and smashing up temporary fences placed around the newly installed play equipment.

Residents say the problem had been ongoing for years but has got worse over the summer holidays with vandals urinating in the play area.

The park has since reopened.

Metal fences erected to stop access while the new equipment was installed were repeatedly pulled down and balloons, cigarette butts and laughing gas cannisters were discarded around the play area.

Following three consecutive nights of carnage park contractors arrived early in the morning to re-erect the fences and tidy the park.

Now the installation of the new equipment has been completed and permanent gates erected following demands from residents, but issues are still continuing.

Mr Turner added: “We appreciate that resources are limited, but many residents have suggested that CCTV would be a worthwhile investment, even if as a further deterrent.”

Police believe the vehicle had been reported stolen and officers say an investigation is ongoing.

A Dartford council spokesperson said: “A stolen motorbike was set alight outside the locked gates to Wilmot Road Playground at the weekend, and whilst we appreciate this must have been concerning to local residents, please be assured that the only damage caused was to the motorbike itself and the gates – the perpetrator was unable to enter the park.

“There have been previous reports of anti-social behaviour in the park, but these have predominantly been noise-related.

“It is a large area which would require a significant number of CCTV cameras, and therefore at the moment, this is not something the council is pursuing.

“If a resident does see anything concerning, we urge them to report it to the police.”