PARENTS are hoping to build a playground for their children by holding a fair and auction.

Proceeds from the event will go towards the £6,000 that the Pity Me Play Park Initiative needs to pay for work it hopes to carry out this summer.

The group was formed to provide a safe play area in The Avenue to make up for other spaces that have been swallowed by development.

The event will be held tomorrow, at Framwellgate Moor Community Centre, Front Street. The fair starts at 10am, and the auction at noon.

Seventy items will be auctioned, including footballs signed by Newcastle and Sunderland players, tickets for Disney on Ice at Newcastle's Telewest Arena, and toys, including limited edition Corgi models, provided by a Glasgow firm.

Treasurer Elaine Burnip said: "The most important thing we have got is a bed hand-crafted in the shape of Thomas the Tank Engine.

"The Caf Rock nightclub has given us great support. They are supplying the auctioneer.

"They have also given us 250 teddy bears, £100 for the tombola and £100 for our funds. We are over the moon with their help. We need to raise up to £6,000 by June so we can put fencing around the land.

"It would be nice to think we could raise £2,000 with the auction and fair."