Park users have condemned an arson attack on a much-loved Victorian bandstand.
The Friends of Western Park had recently been granted £500 to restore the structure, which stands in Western Park, Hinckley Road, Leicester.
Members had planned to repaint the bandstand in preparation for a summer festival where musicians would use it.
However, arsonists set fire to pile of timber, which was sitting in the middle of the bandstand, in the early hours of Saturday.
Group member Christine Holton said: "It's lucky we hadn't already carried out the work.
"It's such a shame that someone would want to target such a beautiful park.
"If they want to start a bonfire they should do it in their own gardens."
Firefighters who tackled the blaze, at 12.30am, had to cut away pieces of the bandstand in order to confirm the flames were out.
The structure was damaged by fire and smoke. The damage is being assessed by the property services team at Leicester City Council.
Ward councillor Susan Barton said the damage was "not too bad".
"It's still structurally sound," she said.
"There's some charring and some slight fire and smoke damage."
Coun Barton said she thought youths were unlikely to be to blame for the fire, given the time it happened.
"It's more likely to be people on the way home from the pub," she said.
It is one of a small number of arson attacks which have taken place in the area recently.
Barry Ingram, senior parks officer for Leicester City Council, which maintains the site, said: "There were some grass verges nearby which someone set fire to, so there's a pattern of arson."
