THE children's play area at a Runcorn park is to get a £111,000 facelift.

Halton Council has plans to refurbish the 12-year-old playground at Phoenix Park in Castlefields.

More accessible play equipment for children of all ages and abilities is being installed.

A multi-activity play unit with ramped access, swings with a variety of seats, a flush-floor roundabout, a see-saw with extra-supportive seats, a ground-level trampoline and a sensory interactive play train are among the improvements.

Halton Cllr Ron Hignett, board member for the physical environment, said: "This will improve the facilities in what is one of the area's most popular parks. I am sure everyone will welcome the work we will be doing on the site."

Funding for the £111,000 project will come from a variety of sources, including WREN’s FCC Community Action Fund which provides grants to community projects using money generated from the landfill community funds of FCC Environment Ltd .

Halton Council is providing funds through the local area forum and Open Space Services Division’s capital playground improvement budget.

Windmill Hill Big Local and Tesco, through its ‘Bags of Help’ scheme, are also contributing.

The work will be carried out by Manchester-based firm Dunkil Developments Ltd who hope to start work early this month.

The project is expected to be completed in six weeks.

Unfortunately, for safety reasons, the play area will be closed for the duration of the works.