A RIVERSIDE play area in Burnley's Towneley Park has been reopened following a major refurbishment.

Disabled youngster Kenzie Lumsden, 8, officially reopened the play area after Burnley Council's greenspaces team gave it a revamp.

Kenzie was not able to use the previous equipment but the refurbished play area features equipment that is accessible for him and others to use.

He was put forward to officially re-open the playground and the council was pleased to allow him the honour.

Chairman of the Friends of Towneley, Maureen Frankland, said: "Towneley is part of our lives, we played here as children and now we enjoy taking our children and grandchildren to the park and seeing them having fun.

"We wanted the play area to provide opportunities for children of all ages and abilities and we are very grateful to the Lancashire Environmental Fund and Burnley Council for providing the funding to refurbish the play area."

The council's head of greenspaces and amenities, Simon Goff, said: "We have opened the play area for the Easter holidays so that youngsters could enjoy it during the school break.

"It's not quite complete, and we have a couple of large items of equipment, including an interactive sonic arch and a 3m high tube slide with rope bridge still to put in. These will be installed after the holidays are over."

The council worked with the Friends of Towneley on the consultation and design of the play area and the group secured grant funding of £30,000 from the Lancashire Environmental Fund towards the cost of the scheme.

Burnley Rotary Club also helped support the project.