A PLAYGROUND designed by children is to be built, thanks to lottery cash.

Wasteland off Aquamarine Drive in Fartown is to be turned into a play area, with slides, swings and climbing frames.

Children who live nearby were asked what they wanted in their playground and also got the chance to draw their own designs.

The full cost of the playground will be covered by the £200,000 grant.

The good news follows the Examiner's three-day series last week which revealed the best and worst of the the town's play areas.

The chairman of the Red Doles Playground Committee, Martin Wood, 58, of Jacinth Court, has been working hard for three years to secure cash for the project which was dreamed up after people said there was nowhere for children to play.

He said: "The residents' association asked people who lived nearby what they would like to see improved on the estate.

"A lot of them said they wanted somewhere that the kids could play.

"So we started to look into it.

"After a lot of work we got to a stage where we were told we qualified for lottery funding.

"One of the first things we did was ask the children what they thought. We got some stationary and asked them to draw up what they would like to see in the playground," added Mr Wood.

"We also travelled round the area with some of the children, taking them to have a go on other playgrounds to see what worked and what they did not like.

"We have certainly listened to them and the playground has been, in part, designed by the local kids."

Work is due to start in November and the playground should be finished by next spring.

Mr Wood was delighted to have been given the cash - but admits he nearly gave up on the project after several setbacks.

He said: "About three times I sat down and thought to myself we might not end up getting this project finished because there was so much that needed sorting out, like safety and, of course, the cost.

"I feel proud we have been given the money and will be able to complete the plans and build the playground.

"It will be special for me once it is open," he added.

Linthwaite Methodist Church in Stones Lane has also been given some lottery cash. A section of the roof will be replaced and the kitchen will be upgraded with a £23,000 grant.