RESIDENTS have called on parents to control their children after a £600 bench was set alight in a playground.

Firefighters were called to deal with a blaze in Fisher Field, in Wellington Close, Braintree, at about 8.50pm on Tuesday.

The fire was put out ten minutes later, but mums said the fire was just the latest in a long list of antisocial behaviour incidents in the park.

Writing on Facebook, Kath Gill said: “I took my grandchildren over to the park, but as soon as we reached the park the language from some small children was absolutely disgusting.

“Obviously we turned round and went back home again. I'd like to know where they hear this awful language.”

A fire service spokesman said it was not clear how the blaze was started.