Youngsters who light fires at a popular Worthing skate park have been dubbed mindless morons by police.

Firefighters are called about five times a week to Homefield Park, in Chestwood Road, where youths are setting light to dustbins, pallets and other waste.

The problem is currently of particular concern because of strike action by firefighters.

On Tuesday, a meeting will be held between brigade representatives, the police, Worthing Borough Council and West Sussex County Council to discuss solutions.

Steve Boniface, Leading Firefighter for Blue Watch at Worthing fire station, said: "The lighting of fires in public places is not acceptable. We cannot have it going on. Our concern is public safety and welfare. It has been going on for a while but it is getting worse.

"It is worse at the weekends but in general it is happening at least five times a week. This is unreasonable. If we called to the park, there may be a fire elsewhere. Someone else may need us."

Youngsters are apparently causing the fires in bid to illuminate the skate park, which was only built three years ago, at night.

PC Ian Blyth, of Worthing police, said: "Over the past few weeks we have received numerous complaints and calls about small fires. All of these calls have been in relation to anti- social behaviour around the skateboard park.

"The skateboard area has been vandalised with the fencing being ripped down. The fires have been lit by the offenders in order for them to use the skateboard park after the hours of darkness when the park is closed.

"The actions of a few mindless morons are jeopardising the future support of this venture. Anyone who is involved should not be surprised if they are arrested over the next few weeks."

One of the solutions that has been suggested is to floodlight the skate park.

Bryan Curtis, principle engineer for the borough council, said: "It appears what the youngsters want is floodlighting and this is being looked into.

"Everyone is trying to do something about the problem but I think no one knows the best way to deal with it. I think floodlights would be opposed by local residents."

Glenn Reeves, 36, is a council landscape contractor responsible for clearing up the park each day.

He said: "It is down to us to make sure it is safe. You should see what we have to contend with each morning at the moment.

"Every single night there is a fire down there. Whoever is doing it has been dragging pallets in from the Co-op supermarket and the hospital down to the skate park and setting fire to them.

"The park is always full of broken glass, broken bits of pallets and there are bits of concrete all over the place.

"The actual tarmac and concrete has gone. I think the way it is going the council will have to decided whether they are going to repair it or pull it down."