A RALLYING call has gone out urging villagers to help improve children's play facilities in their community.

Residents of Fishburn are being asked to get involved in a campaign to create a play area for youngsters after two sets of swings had to be pulled down.

The parish council was forced to remove the play equipment it used to provide when safety inspectors recommended it was dismantled for detailed safety checks.

Since it was removed, villagers have been looking at ways to improve facilities for children.

At a meeting earlier this month, residents discussed whether to try to have the four small playgrounds in the village refurbished or to build a new playground.

As very few people attended, they agreed to carry out further consultation with the community and formed a committee to manage the redevelopment of the play facilities.

The committee plans to launch a play strategy to develop the scheme and explore ways of making the most of the Memorial Children's Playing Field, to the rear of Maughan Terrace.

The field was donated to the village by a local businessman in 1952 and is now run by a group of trustees as a charity.

As it has to be used for children's play, it is the most likely site for a playground to be installed, which could cost more than £50,000.

Resident Richard Wanless said that the group hopes to keep the community informed with regular newsletters but that further input was welcomed.

Villager John Irvine added: "It was a shame more people didn't attend but we now want to get a group of genuinely interested people to join our committee and get involved.

"The committee is totally independent of any other group or council so can hopefully access grants that may not otherwise be available.

"We will need to decide what local people want and then secure the money to try and do it.

"I'd encourage anyone who can offer some time and ideas to get in touch."

Anybody who wants to get involved with the play area scheme is asked to contact Mr Irvine on (01740) 623712.