More than £50,000 is to be spent on improving a children’s play area in the borough.

New swings, slides and roundabouts will be put in at the park in Overfield Road on the Russells Hall estate, while the existing climbing frame and fencing will be retained and refurbished.

Dog grids at entrance points will be removed to make the play area more accessible for visitors with disabilities or mobility difficulties, while new safety surfacing will also be installed. Equipment has been ordered and it is hoped the new play area will be open by Easter. Councillor Karen Shakespeare, cabinet member for public realm, said:

"The equipment at Overfield Road is in urgent need of upgrading and I welcome this investment. Both the active friends group at the park and councillors have actively been pushing for improvements to this play area, and as a listening council we are happy to push this forward.

"Our parks and play areas are a great free way of helping children stay active and these improvements will be beneficial to the whole community in Russells Hall and beyond."

The total cost of the project is £50,448.65. It will come from monies paid by developers in exchange for building in the borough via section 106 payments.