A RUN-DOWN children's play area looks set to benefit from a £30,000 windfall to give it a new lease of life.

The site, at Saltaire Terrace in Greatham, close to Hartlepool, has been waiting for funding for some time.

Now, members of Hartlepool Borough Council are expected to approve a £25,000 cash boost to help refurbish the play facility - on top of £5,000 that has already been approved.

A decision is to be made on Tuesday, September 6.

Councillor Peter Jackson, the council's cabinet member with responsibility for performance management, said: "I will be strongly supporting this proposal because this is a high priority.

"Unlike many other areas of the town, Greatham does not benefit from the various funding regimes, so it is important that the council makes every effort to channel in resources when opportunities arise.

"This report to cabinet has come about because Councillor Michael Johnson, the chairman of the South Neighbourhood Forum and resident representatives have been pressing for some action."

His view was echoed by cabinet colleague Councillor Robbie Payne, who has responsibility for culture, housing and transportation.

"The children of Greatham deserve better, and £30,000 would result in fairly significant improvements," he said.

"The allocation would also help the likes of the parish council to lever in further money through match-funding schemes to enhance the play area even further in the future."

And Councillor Michael Johnson welcomed the proposal as "great news".

He said: "Residents have regularly raised concerns about the condition of the play area at our meetings and it is heartening that some funding has been identified."