A boy has been rushed to hospital after being 'scalped' on a children's play castle.

Jordan Spilsbury needed emergency surgery at East Grinstead Hospital when he slipped and gashed his head on the new £50,000 attraction at Beachfields sandpit on the Isle of Sheppey.

The controversial slide was shut a week after it opened following an avalanche of injuries and had only just been reopened after extensive modifications.

Brian Spoor, who chairs the Sheerness Town Team, today called for it to be dismantled.

He said: "The castle looked great when it was first installed. It has been a fantastic attraction and has been very well used. But it is quite clearly unfit for purpose.

"Heads should roll. The council should get its money back from the manufacturer and replace it with a good set of swings.

"The council can't leave it there. Someone will end up breaking their neck, gashing their throat or dying."

Jordan was injured last night.

His mum Tasha Spilbury said: "My son was in the sandpit at Sheerness and slipped on the ground surrounding the castle.

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"He head-butted the metal construction and managed to 'de-glove' his scalp to the point where his skull was showing.

"It was touch and go for a rush to East Grinstead to have reconstruction on his scalp."

She warned: "This place is extremely unsafe. I will be taking this to the council and Kompan who designed the castle, and it will be taken down.

"If no action is taken I will be taking them to court.

"The place has no lights, no cameras and no security at night."

She added: "This wasn't just a bump on the slide. He was scalped."

An ambulance spokesman said crews were called to McDonald's in Bridge Road, Sheerness, at 9.30pm last night.

He said: "The patient had gone into McDonald's with a cut to the head. He had reportedly been running and tripped over.

"The patient was treated and taken to Medway Maritime Hospital."

A spokesman for Swale council said today: “We hadn’t received any reports of an accident at the park but now we are aware we are trying to contact those involved to investigate what happened.”

He said there were no plans to close the slide at present.

This weekend is likely to be on the busiest times of the year for the play area as schools break up for a two-week Easter holiday on Friday.

Cllr Cameron Beart (Halfway and Queenborough) said: "I have notified our green spaces manager so he is aware of it."

Time-line

January

Swale council announces £50,000 upgrade to Beachfields play area

February

Popular 33-year-old 'galleon' climbing frame and slide cut up and removed

Workmen from Kompan replace it with £50,000 6m-tall castle

Castle opened on Monday February 13 for half-term holidays

Flood of injuries from slide section

Slide section boxed off, Monday February 25

March

Whole of castle fenced off

Reopened to public March 13

Swale council insists: “It met all safety standards and passed a post-installation inspection but, given the reports received, it has been adjusted to provide a smoother ride at a slightly shallower gradient while remaining an exhilarating ride for the older children it was designed for.”

April

Boy injured April 2