A COUNCIL blunder saw workers mistakenly remove and destroy equipment from a children’s play area, it has emerged.

People living near the Fryer Crescent recreation ground in Darlington heard angle-grinders in operation and rushed out to see what was going on.

They found council workers dismantling the playground equipment on the field. Swings, a climbing frame and a rocker were uprooted before the shocked residents managed to intervene.

Darlington Borough Council (DBC) said last night an administrative error was to blame for the playground receiving its unwanted transformation. It has been claimed that the work was meant to be carried out at a different play area, but this has not been confirmed by the council.

The authority is now working to make amends with the community by installing new equipment and improving the playground for the enjoyment of youngsters living in the Haughton area.

A spokeswoman for the council put the cost of the error at “a few hundred pounds” and said the bill had been kept to a minimum by making use of equipment already in stock and using in-house labour to install it.

The spokeswoman added: “Unfortunately, due to an administration error, three pieces of play equipment were removed from Fryer Crescent.

“We would like to apologise for this mistake and have taken steps to ensure it does not happen again in the future.

“Since then, the council has also worked closely with the newly-formed Friends group of Fryer Crescent and the local community to redesign the play area, making use of other equipment we have in stock to improve the range of items for children to enjoy.

“Work has now started and should be completed within the next couple of weeks.”

The secretary of the Friends group, John Thompson, praised the council for responding swiftly to the error, which came to light when his wife and others heard the work taking place.

Mr Thompson said: “I approached the workmen and they told me they had instructions to remove the equipment.

“Having not been informed of this, I contacted our councillors by email and phone and also emailed the council’s play area manager who was here very quickly and stopped work.

“The workmen had removed the frame for the swings and a rocker by this time and had started dismantling the climbing frame, so for safety reasons they had to continue removing that.”

He welcomed the installation of the new equipment. “We have gained a new climbing cube,” he said.

“A tea pot lid roundabout will replace the swings and another dish rocker is yet to be installed.

“I cannot fault the response we received from the council and councillors on this.

“Having eyes and ears on the area helped avoid further loss and accountability was easily established.”

As part of the Friends group, Mr Thompson is hoping to bring about further improvements to the recreation ground around Fryer Crescent and would particularly like to see the erection of a shelter for teenagers and the planting of more trees and seeds.

Anyone who can help the Friends group or who would be willing to volunteer to assist them in regular clean-ups of the area should contact Mr Thompson on 07505 538902 or visit the Friends of Fryer Crescent Recreation Area on Facebook.

The recreation area dates back to 1930 when Darlington grocer and former parish councillor Frederick Fryer – described in an obituary as “quite a personality in the rural district” – gifted a seven-acre plot of land to the former Haughton Parish Council, protected by a restrictive covenant and intended for use by the village’s children.