A NEW £135,000 play area in a public park been welcomed by its local councillor.

The cash for the investment by Blackburn with Darwen Council has come from money raised from the developers of housing projects for use in improving neighbourhoods.

On Saturday the Lancashire Telegraph revealed how the play area in Blackburn’s Victorian Corporation Park - divided into two sections for older and younger children - will look.

Cllr Zainab Rawat, who represents Shear Brow and Corporation Park ward, said: “Ward councillors, volunteers and council staff have worked so hard to help bring this to life.

“With so many different pulls on council resources, we are delighted that investment from local development is being channelled back into the community to help keep the park alive and buzzing.

“Parks are the hub of a community and we all want to do what we can to protect our borough’s finest assets.

“We know this significant investment in the play area will encourage more residents and visitors to visit our wonderful borough and get the most out of our parks.”

The chosen design will include more than 100 new activities with around 30 different features and pieces of equipment.

Work on the play area, fully-accessible to the disabled, is due to be completed in the spring.