CHILDREN around the Wear Valley District are losing 15 council-run playgrounds after a report condemned them as unsafe.

Work starts today to remove swings and other equipment from the sites and improve another ten.

Nine swings and a slide were cordoned off by the council in the summer when safety checks revealed possible faults.

The inspections followed an accident at Sunniside in July when swings collapsed on an eight-year-old boy.

Now a follow-up report by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) on all the district's 83 playgrounds found that 25 were potentially dangerous, either because the equipment was unstable or because it was mounted on concrete or tarmac.

The 15 being removed are close to other sites, while the ten being improved are in isolated areas.

The condemned playgrounds are at Newton Cap, in Bishop Auckland, Coundon Station, York Close, in Leeholme, St Wilfrid's Walk, in South Church, Jubilee Park, in Howden-le-Wear, the Eastgate Leisure Complex, Coronation Avenue, in Stanhope, Wolsingham Steelworks and seven in Crook at Arthur Street, George Terrace, Greenhead, High Hope Street, Langdale Avenue, Sycamore Gardens and Thistleflat Road.

Dennis Nattrass, head for business support for community services, said the council would not compromise on safety. He said: "We have identified those sites that pose a high risk to children's safety and have decided to take swift action to remove or improve these play areas with immediate effect.

"A serious or fatal accident could occur on equipment in these play areas and public safety is our number one priority at all times."

The council is also reviewing its play area provision throughout the district and has promised to consult residents.

Any reduction in the number of playgrounds is likely to meet with opposition from the affected communities.

Harry Irwin, Stanhope parish council's vice-chairman, said yesterday: "People want more playgrounds, not less.

"Parents want safe places for their children to play near their homes. I think the council is more concerned with cost than safety."