WORK is to start on a £40,000 children's play area in Darlington's Eastbourne Park early next month.

It will include swings and climbing frames.

The area will be protected by a fence and 24-hour closed-circuit television surveillance.

The play area is the latest project in a £180,000 scheme to improve parks, cemeteries and open spaces in the borough.

Other work includes re-laying footpaths at North Park, North Cemetery, the Denes and Stanhope Park. Maintenance work has also been carried out to improve the condition of footpaths in Sugar Hill Park and Green Park.

Work has already started on a £100,000 scheme to introduce five closed-circuit television cameras in some parks and cemeteries to help reduce vandalism and to improve safety.