Three vandalised and torched motorcycles have been discovered at a popular play area.

The “toxic mess” was found by three local councillors during a litter pick around the play area off Dickens Road in Ringlestone, near Maidstone.

Councillors Ian Chittenden, Tony Harwood and Mike Thompson were first alerted to the scene by the stench of burnt plastic. They found the grass and nearby trees were scorched, while molten plastic, metal and sooty deposits were scattered over a wide area.

Play equipment - including a teen shelter - had also been scorched by the high temperatures reached by the burning bikes.

Cllr Harwood said: “This grim discovery is the latest in a series of destructive events in and around the county town.

“Mindless vandalism and some very dangerous behaviours are becoming all too frequent – particularly across our much-loved local green spaces.”

He added: “It is vital that people report any incidents of vandalism and wanton destruction to enable effective intelligence-led enforcement and early clean-up of the toxic mess that is too often left behind – we must all become the eyes and ears of our under-resourced and over-stretched authorities.”

Other discoveries during the litter pick included discarded clothing, furniture, nitrous oxide cylinders and dumped toys and household goods.

The councillors moved the bikes to a safer place and arranged for their removal by the council.

Only last week, vandals broke down fencing and sabotaged a pond lining in the Buckland Hill Nature Reserve in Maidstone.

No-one has been arrested for either event.