Vow to get tough on the firestarters 'risking lives'

The authorities have vowed to clamp down on antisocial behaviour following a spate of fires targeting South Hylton Park which has destroyed wildlife and left local residents living in fear.

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Earlier this week the Friends of South Hylton residents group told how a slide in the park had been destroyed and apple trees which used to bear fruit have been killed by the fires.

Due to the escalation of incidents, Northumbria Police, Sunderland City Council and Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) have issued a joint statement urging parents to be vigilant about what their children are up to and vowing to clampdown on any perpetrators.