IT IS a statistic that will appal and concern many.

In the past five years, 150 swing seats in children’s playgrounds in Kirklees have had to be replaced.

What is so astonishing about this figure is that the damage to the seats has not been caused by wear and tear or even abuse of the swings by children.

It has been caused by irresponsible dog-owners encouraging their dogs to chew on them.

Apparently some of those who own tough-looking breeds of dogs such as pitbulls encourage their pet to tug on hanging objects such as tyres, or in this case swing seats, to strengthen the animal’s jaw.

This sort of damage to playground equipment goes well beyond the bounds of playful behaviour.

The cost to the local taxpayer of this unimaginably stupid practice is £10,000 in seat replacements.

The cost to a child were a dog, excited by this sort of activity, to get out of control is unthinkable.

Thankfully there have been no incidents reported in the town’s playgrounds on that basis but the potential is surely there for something to go wrong.

In a week when Kirklees Council is about to debate some of its toughest ever proposals on dog control it must be of huge concern to the many responsible dog owners in the town to hear of this sort of behaviour by a minority of people.

Inevitably, the majority who care for and control their pets and enjoy taking advantage of our open spaces may well find their pleasure in walking their dog threatened by the minority.

And people who let dogs chew seats in a children’s playground are doing their case nothing but harm.