CHILDREN are campaigning for playgrounds to be cleaned up after being told they can no longer play in the streets.

Youngsters in the Cockerton area of Darlington have asked their residents' association to campaign for the three parks in the area to be tidied up.

The children say Sugar Hill Park, Minors Crescent Park and Branksome Park are all littered with used hypodermic needles, dog excreta and litter.

Caroline Houghey, from the Cockerton Action Group, said: "Darlington Borough Council sent letters to some parents asking their children not to play in the street.

"We understand why they want the children away from the houses and the roads, but the parks are in a disgraceful state.

"We have set up special postboxes where the children can give us their comments, and they keep asking about getting a new play area.

"I don't want my children in the parks, where you can see there are drug users and dangerous litter."

The children are appealing to people in the area to clean up after their dogs and not to leave litter in the play areas.

The council has already removed vandalised play equipment from Sugar Hill Park and is planning to remove trees to make it more difficult for people to hide and misuse the area, but residents are calling for the council's wardens to make more regular patrols of the area.

Ms Houghey said: "The children are desperate for somewhere to play where they are safe.

"It is so difficult for us to get a warden to stop the vandals as they are ruining the parks.

"Both the residents and the council have to work together to make it better for the children."