THOUGHTLESS dog owners could be costing tax payers hundreds of pounds, and depriving youngsters of fun on child swings at a Redditch park.

For the third time since August the seat of the toddler swing has been damaged at Arrow Valley Country Park.

Officers believe the tough rubber seats are being used to train dogs who are biting the equipment making them unusable.

Redditch Council’s parks officer Jackie Boreham said: “The swing is covered in bite marks to such an extent that most of the seat is missing.

“It’s unfortunate as not only do the swing seats cost £75 each to replace, but there’s the time when the swings are out of action and cannot be used by toddlers.

“At the end of the day this is vandalism and we are urging park-users to report any incidents of this nature – or even better, if it is a dog, for owners to stop acting so thoughtlessly.”

Anyone who does spot anything is asked to report it to parks@bromsgroveandredditch.gov.uk