INNOVATIVE play equipment plus a climbing wall and basketball court for teenagers are on the cards in a £25,000 play area revamp.

Swinton play area was installed just over a decade ago, and features a trim trail, two slides and swings. But parish council clerk Gail Snowden said that, 10 years down the line, the kit is now in an extremely bad state of repair. The parish council has sent out letters to all residents telling them they are planning to update the play equipment and asking for ideas on what improvements should be included.

Gail said: “The proposed new equipment will be innovative and provide imaginary play, suitable for children up to four years.” Parish councillor Victoria Farrow added that it will also provide facilities for teenagers and disabled young people.

The equipment is to be built in natural materials and it is also hoped to provide a fence to enable older children to play five-a-side football, while the youngsters use the playground in safety.

Parish councillors hope to create an ‘early years’ area, along with a basketball court and climbing wall for teenagers.

The project is expected to cost in the region of £25,000, and the parish council is appealing to local businesses for sponsorship.

If the fundraising is successful, work will begin in September and the hope is that it will be ready to use by the end of November.

Ann Cooper, who is retired and lives on Aysholme West Street, said: “I think this is a good thing, because we’ve got an awful lot more children in the village at the moment.

“We did go through a stage where there was hardly a child to be seen here, but now there are more families.”