A SANDPIT in a Newton Aycliffe play area is to be transformed.

The pit, in Simpasture Park, has become dangerous to play in, because of broken glass and dog dirt.

Now it is hoped that instead of sand, the area will be replaced by a basketball hoop for the children.

Councillor Maud Gray, of Great Aycliffe Town Council, came up with the idea after seeing a similar hoop in the town's Moore Lane park.

She said: "Simpasture Park has seen better days and the sandpit now has a lot of broken glass in and is used by the older kids.

"So for health and safety reasons I complained about it and it was blocked off.

"They were just going to fill it in, so instead I asked if we could do something with it and thought about a basketball hoop."

Now the plan is to concrete over the sandpit area and put in a hoop, in time for next summer.

Coun Gray said: "I'm very pleased about it because a lot of the bairns just take to sitting on the grass and hopefully this will give them something to do."