Vandals have damaged a play area for disabled children, just a week after it opened.
Green Lane Recreation Ground, between New Malden and Berrylands, has specially-adapted equipment for disabled and able-bodied children and has been popular since opening last week.
But families have been left distraught after the see-saw appeared to have been attacked with a chainsaw.
They were told by a worker the swings had been stolen, but a council spokesman later said they were removed for maintenance work.
Miranda Hoogewerf, whose six-year-old daughter uses a wheelchair, said: “There is very little we can do with disabled children in this area and it was just absolutely lovely to be able to go down with normal families and have the children all playing together.
“To see it destroyed is just heartbreaking. What’s wrong with people?”
The park had been closed for more than a year and had been contaminated with sewage after floods two years ago.
A council spokeswoman said contractors were due to visit the site to assess the damage this week and the swings will be replaced after final touches are completed this weekend.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here