Vandals cause £10,000-worth of damage at children’s play area in Eastbourne, leaving staff ‘devastated’

A popular children’s play area in Eastbourne was vandalised last night (October 31) causing more than £10,000-worth of damage and leaving staff ‘devastated’.
Chris and Katie said they were devastatedChris and Katie said they were devastated
Chris and Katie said they were devastated

Fort Fun in Royal Parade was attacked at around midnight on Halloween which saw four windows smashed, an inflatable pillow – worth around £10,000 – slashed open and ride wires hacked at with a knife.

Katie, general manager at Fort fun, said, “I am gutted and speechless. I hope it does not affect our company. And I hope one day the vandals get caught out.

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“When I came on site this morning I cried. This is like my second home. We’re all devastated.”

The inflatable pillow was slashedThe inflatable pillow was slashed
The inflatable pillow was slashed

Chris, supervisor at Fort Fun, said, “We have come in today to this vandalism. It’s not just upsetting for us, it’s upsetting for the children.”

The pair said they handed over CCTV footage to police.

Katie and Chris both stressed Fort Fun is still open for business, and staff have blocked off the damaged areas for safety purposes.

Katie said, “We have to lift the staff, the parents and children, that is our job.”

Four windows were smashed by vandalsFour windows were smashed by vandals
Four windows were smashed by vandals
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Sussex Police said, “Police are investigating a break-in at Fort Fun, Royal Parade, Eastbourne, which is thought to have occurred between 6pm on Thursday (31 October) and 8am on Friday (1 November), when maintenance staff discovered damage.

“Padlocked shutters on two double-glazed windows had been removed and a rock used to shatter the glass.

“Intruders then damaged a control box for the venue’s teacup ride, stole a CCTV camera and slashed a bouncy pillow feature multiple times.”

Anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious is asked to contact Sussex Police online at www.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us/ or by phoning 101, quoting serial 464 of 01/11.