YOUNGSTERS will be asked for ideas for equipment to feature in a £43,000 play area refurbishment.

The East Thirsk Play Area will undergo its first major refurbishment in nearly 20 years thanks to Big Lottery funding.

Some of the original equipment at the play area, near Thirsk School, has been removed for safety reasons.

The plans are the first phase of a projected £90,000 scheme for the play area, owned by Thirsk Town Council.

Councillor Jan Marshall, of the town council, said: "I am very pleased to say that we have got nearly £50,000.

"The play area was first set up about 17 years ago, and it is dated and needs upgrading, so this is great news.

"This play area is for lots of kids, but in particular those on the Hambleton Estate, as it has no other play provision.

"We are asking the local youngsters to help design it as we want to upgrade it to what they want."

The play area is in a triangle of land formed between Thirsk School, the Millennium Green and Hambleton Place.

Youngsters of all ages use the play area, and the town council is keen to see any new scheme receive such use.

The project, supported by the East Thirsk Problem-Solving Group, will also result in a new safety surface laid at the facility.

Consultants will work alongside the council and youngsters with an initial design to be in place within a fortnight.

No work will take place on the site until March.

Neighbouring Sowerby Parish Council recently spent £78,000 renovating one of its play areas.

But vandals targeted the site and left smashed glass there and damaged a youth shelter.

The council will now bring in a curfew on its play area to weed out the minority of vandals.

Coun Marshall, though, hopes the East Thirsk site will not be targeted the same way.

She said: "We do have problems with kids hanging around, but we hope to work out the problems. We hope that by involving the youngsters in the design scheme, the play area will be something they want."