REDCAR and Cleveland Council is celebrating after the Government gave the go-ahead to spend more than £1m on dozens of new play areas in the borough.

The investment comes from the launch of the National Play Strategy, with the council among 89 local authorities awarded funding to build and revamp playgrounds.

Communities all over England will have the chance to design their own children's play areas as part of 235 million funding for play announced in the Children's Plan.

The council's cabinet member for leisure, culture and tourism, Councillor Sheelagh Clarke said: "We're delighted to be able to start proper planning around this investment.

"It's not going to happen overnight - that's for certain.

"But it certainly provides an exciting prospect and the first thing we need to do is investigate what facilities are needed, if others need upgrading and where the demand is. Once we get that crucial information, we can start proper planning."

The announcement from Children's Secretary Ed Balls gives the green light to a new drive to create exciting play sites, with £30m due to be spent in 2010/2011 being brought forward to 2009/2010.

It is part of the Government's drive to get the country through the economic downturn and allows all local authorities to access play funding of at least £1m by Spring 2009.