Police had a bank-holiday kickabout with youngsters after putting out a small fire on a playground in Stoke Newington.

Hackney Gazette: Police were called to a fire on a children's playground. Picture: Hackney PolicePolice were called to a fire on a children's playground. Picture: Hackney Police (Image: Archant)

Officers were called to the Yorkshire Grove playground in Beatty Road at 6.42pm yesterday and quickly extinguished the small fire.

And before leaving, they took on a team of small children in a game of football – and teased firefighters for not getting involved.

“Called to a fire in a park,” one officer wrote on Twitter. “Once put out it was only fair we had a kick about with the other kids. @LFBHackney [London Fire Brigade] came but didn’t fancy a match.”

The officers were praised for their community engagement even though they showed no mercy against their tiny opponents, defeating them 3-2.