FOUR playgrounds out of 15 in Rossendale will close while others will have equipment removed after an engineer inspected play facilities and found a number of defects.

The leisure and economic development committee recommended sourcing nearly £63,000 to upgrade eight of the borough's playgrounds.

Others which were found to have equipment which was not defective but needed attention will be added to the playground improvement programme for future works.

The playgrounds to close are Mullards in Waterfoot, Moller Ring in Goodshaw, Hareholme in Cloughfold and Heys Street Playground in Haslingden.

And half the play equipment in Fairview (Sunnyside) playground in Burnley Road, Rawtenstall, will be removed.

The inspection of facilities was originally contained in a report which was to be heard in private, but Coun Graham Pearson successfully moved that the item should be heard in public.

An engineer on behalf of Rossendale Council's insurers carried out the inspection and made the recommendations to prevent any potential litigation against the council in the future.

More than £15,000 worth of work is recommended for Haslingden's Clod Lane Playground and £30,000 worth of work is planned for Stubbylee and Moorlands Park and the committee recommend releasing money from Stubbylee and Moorlands Trusts.

Groundwork Rossendale is also putting together a project to improve the playground at Cutler Crescent in Stacksteads.