A NEW play area is now open in Milnshaw Park, Accrington ready for the long summer school break.

The £120,000 playground includes an aerial runway, basket swing, large rotator, swings and a skynet.

The skynet, the first of its kind in Hyndburn, is the centre piece of the play area where children can climb to the top of the large pyramid shaped net before they are rewarded with a slide back down to the ground.

For the younger children there is a colourful climbing structure in the shape of a train, with a slide at one end.

Cllr Paul Cox, cabinet member for parks and open spaces, said: "Milnshaw Park has been a big priority of mine since I was first elected in 2011 and something I’m really proud to have helped achieve.

"The play area is already proving very popular, providing families and local children with a wonderful facility in their local park for the summer holidays.

The Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, working closely with Hyndburn Council, secured a grant from the Lancashire Environmental Fund for £30,000 and Hyndburn Council provided the remainder.

Cath Holmes of the Hyndburn Green Spaces Forum, said: "It is nice to see a wonderful new play area in Milnshaw Park for the local community to enjoy.

"We are once again pleased to work with Hyndburn Council to help improve the parks and open spaces in Hyndburn and thank you to the Lancashire Environmental Fund for their support locally."