A Newton Abbot mother-of-three has called for the district's last open-air paddling pool to be scrapped before a child falls ill or is seriously injured.

Mandy Northcott, 45, said the pool at Buckland was a health hazard and should be closed along the same lines as those at Decoy and Teignmouth. She made the claim after her six-year-old border collie, Max, cut his paw on broken glass that lay at the bottom of the pool.

Although closed for the winter, vandals have broken the gates and Max came to grief when out on his daily walk with Mrs Northcott's 16-year-old son, Christopher.

'Max was off the lead for a run in the park and before Christopher knew it he had gone straight through the gates and into the pool,' she said. 'There was blood everywhere and we had to take him to the vets although they said it would have to heal itself. 'Max is getting better now but I'm concerned that this could happen to a child. The broken glass could easily cut through even if they were wearing boots.'

In addition, Mrs Northcott expressed concerned about the water quality in the summer months saying youngsters used it as a toilet and rode their bikes in it.

'I just think we should get rid of these open air pools altogether, they're a real health hazard,' she said. Mrs Northcott was also critical of Teignbridge Council's response to the vandalism claiming that no action had been taken a week after the accident.

That was rejected by the council where a spokesman said the pool had been drained and the glass removed. New gates were on order, adding to the latest £200,000 vandalism bill facing tax payers. But this week the forlorn pool was once again littered with broken glass and rubbish.

Buckland representative at Teignbridge, Cllr Robert Leeper, condemned the vandalism at the pool, funds for which had been raised by residents in the 1990s. 'It is sad reflection that some people can't go out and have fun without damaging something,' he said. 'Of course it's always other people who suffer.'

Cllr Leeper confirmed that the pool was closely monitored throughout the summer but agreed that its future would be threatened if health and safety could not be maintained. Its replacement with something similar to the wet play area being installed at Decoy would depend on the availability of funds he said.