Children celebrate play day as thieves strike

Aug 2 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

AN EVENT to celebrate children’s play in Wirral was marred yesterday when thieves stole a bouncy castle generator.

The organisers discovered the theft at the end of the event and say they are astonished someone could have taken such a heavy piece of equipment without being spotted.

Hundreds of children had descended on Birkenhead Park to celebrate National Play Day 2007.

The event was organised to link with the national campaign focusing on children’s play.

Steve Chan, from Wirral’s Council’s children and young people’s department, said the bouncy castle had been one of many popular activities at the event. Held at the recently refurbished Birkenhead Park, the event included sports activities, a drum circle, circus skills, talent show, slide and face painting.

Mr Chan said: “There could only have been a 20 minute window of opportunity for them to take it towards the end.

“And it’s heavy. It would take two strong people to carry it, and they would have had to cross the field with it.

“We have been in the middle of the park and the road was closed off so they would have had to carry it some distance.”

He said the generator would costs hundreds of pounds to replace and added: “That is money taken from Wirral Play Council, who are a charity, who organised this event. We will have to see what can be done. It’s unbelievable.”

Wirral Play Council, with help from Wirral Council’s Youth and Play Service, organised the event for around 600 children from across the borough, and Mr Chan said families had also joined in the event, some bringing picnics and making it an enjoyable day out.

He said: “The event itself has been a huge success and the children all clearly enjoyed themselves.”

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact Merseyside Police, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.