A children’s playground is being used by owners of fighting dogs as a training ground.

The playground at Forty Hall, in Forty Hill, Enfield, opened in mid-August this year and has already been repaired three times due to damage caused by the animals.

According the Enfield Borough Council, the owners are making the dogs hang off the equipment by their jaws to train them up in order to fight.

Enfield Council’s cabinet member for environment and community protection, Councillor Chris Bond condemned the actions of the vandals.

He said: “I find it absolutely astonishing that anyone is stupid enough to train fighting dogs, but to do so in a children’s playground shows quite remarkable levels of idiocy and selfishness.

“There have been too many reports in the media of young children being seriously injured by dogs in recent years, so to actually train a fighting dog in a playground and condition it to behave violently around play equipment that is routinely used by toddlers is one of the most despicable things I’ve heard in a long time."

The local authority is now considering installed extra CCTV cameras in the area and increasing park guard and park police patrols.

Cllr Bond added: "These people are a menace to society and should be utterly ashamed of themselves. We want to catch them before one of these dogs attacks someone.
 
“This wanton vandalism is completely unacceptable and it is costing us a fortune to repeatedly replace the equipment that is being damaged. We want residents to tell us who is responsible so we can work with the police and the courts to take the appropriate action against them.”

Councillor Nick Dines, of Chase Ward, said: “Training dogs to fight is disgusting in itself, but doing so in a kids' play area is despicable.

“I hope the police are able to catch the idiots doing this and I urge anyone who has any information to contact the police by calling 101.”