SUNNYHURST Wood is in line for brand new play equipment worth up to £50,000.

Blackburn with Darwen Council has earmarked the woods as a site for investment after the borough was awarded £2million for adventure playgrounds earlier this year.

Questionnaires have been sent to residents asking for their views and recommendations, for the area by the main path running through the wood.

Council bosses say the cash will improve existing areas and provide new equipment rather than help build a whole new adventure playground area. Owl-shaped sculptures for younger children are being considered. Six years ago a similar playground idea was agreed with the Sure Start scheme but it did not materialise because of paperwork problems.

Dennis Gillibrand, president of the Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood, said: “There has always been a need for a suitable play area for children in the woods.

"At the moment the facilities are poor – there are just swings by the kiosk.

“A lot of young families come into the woods and we are pleased about that, but we need to accommodate them properly.

Coun Michael Law-Riding, executive member for leisure and culture, said: “I am delighted that Sunnyhurst Wood has been identified as one of the sites to be allocated money from the Play Pathfinders Scheme.”