A GANG of teenage girls were caught sparking a fire at a popular park as a spate of vandalism and antisocial behaviour sweeps the island.

Residents raised the alarm after spotting the youngsters setting light to dry grass and a wooden bench at Canvey Heights, off Creek Road, yesterday afternoon.

They group reportedly fled after being confronted by an angry islander.

Ray Howard, Tory councillor for Canvey West, said he is disappointed the 30 acre park has become a target for vandals.

He said: “These little devils have got nothing better to do with their time than to cause trouble.

“The park is incredibly well used by people wanting to keep fit, and with dog walkers too.

“We have done some significant work at the park to try and improve it and make it a place that people want to visit.

“We are trying to work closely with police to identify these troublemakers, and we’ll now have community officers at the council who will work with our own staff so we can report these types of incidents and bring a stop to them.

“We’re hoping this will work.”

The Echo revealed last week officers from the Castle

Point and Rochford community policing team will move into the council offices in Kiln Road, Thundersley, by the end of the year to improve communication.

Peter Greig, Canvey Independent councillor for Winter Gardens, fears incidents at the park are becoming too familiar.

He said: “It really doesn’t surprise me to hear of this kind of thing going on.

“It seemed to quieten down for a bit, but then you hear of incidents like this come about.

“There are some large picnic benches there which people have been using to have barbecues, despite it being banned.

“It was also quite a popular place for dumping cars too, we need to bring a stop to anti-social behaviour there.”

In May, youngsters were branded “disrespectful” and “idiotic” after they targeted trees planted in memory of Canvey’s war heroes at the country park.

Angry islanders spotted a group ripping up casing protecting the trees, as well as rabbit caging.

The trees were planted to commemorate 20 fallen First World War servicemen from the island, at a ceremony in February.

Anyone with information can call police on 101.