A ONCE shunned park is today full of laughing children after a community campaign for improvements.

Mother-of-three Lynne Root-ham, who fought for the transformation of run-down Saltwells Park, in Middlesbrough, said: "We have been fighting for about four or five years to get the park back up to standard.

"There are a lot of families using the park now. People are coming out of their homes into the park.

"They can see the changes that have been made.

"I don't think twice about saying to my eight-year-old go to the park, but it used to be pretty unsafe.

"I would not have trusted my youngsters to go there. The swings were always broken, the climbing frame was not very safe and there was no fencing.''

Now the park has new play equipment and benches, is landscaped with trees and a painted fence.

Miss Rootham said: "A few years ago, we used to get a group from out of the area drinking there.

"You saw other parks over the years getting done up, but Saltwells just got forgotten about. But then we all got together and had meetings.''

Middlesbrough Council development worker Maggie Dark and Amanda Buck, manager of Breckon Hill Community Centre, had leading roles in getting funding.

A Middlesbrough Council spokesman confirmed: "The park had become run down over the years, with the equipment looking very worn and possibly dangerous. Parents were reluctant to let the children go into the park.''

The revamped park will be officially re-launched on Saturday with family events.

More than 420 questionnaires were delivered by the council's community development staff to homes, asking residents what improvements they would like.

It led to the creation of the Friends of Saltwells Park group, which worked closely with the council's landscapes department to draw up plans.

The final touches to the recreation area are expected to be completed this autumn and will include a mosaic designed by local children.