A number of residents in Basingstoke were shocked after seeing a young man damage a local children's play park.

Residents in Rooksdown saw the man standing in Parcel Drive play park in the middle of the day on Thursday, March 9, before a conversation on his mobile resulted in him vandalising the surrounding area.

Katharina Mckenna, 34, lives in Rooksdown. She was heading back from a baby class with two other mothers when she noticed the man standing in the park.

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Katharina said: "We were walking past when we noticed him. He was wearing dark clothes, a hoodie, and what was pretty much a ski mask over his head, so you could only see his eyes. 

"He was in his late teens or early twenties and was talking on his phone. Suddenly he had an outburst and just started trashing the area around him."

Katharina said he had picked up a child's scooter which had been left in the park, and began using it to hit the tree stakes supporting a small tree located in the park, as well as the play equipment and the play area sign near the gated entrance.

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The man began walking away towards Basingstoke hospital. The woman followed and asked why he had damaged the park, to which he replied "I had to."

Katharina said: "I don't know what he was doing or what it was all about, but it's a bit alarming.

"There are lots of families and young people in the area, so to witness this damage to public property first-hand is worrying, and quite intimidating behaviour."

Katharina said locals had tried to report the incident, but had found issues when trying to report it. 

The Gazette contacted Hampshire police but has yet to receive a reply.