A COMMUNITY group is withholding payment for play equipment until the firm which built it returns to replace faulty parts.

Youngsters on the Red Hall estate, in Darlington, have been blamed for some damage to the equipment which prevented MP Alan Milburn opening the park in October.

But now members of the Red Hall Partnership, which commissioned the play park to be built, claims that there is also a problem with the equipment being faulty.

At this week's Red Hall Community Partnership meeting Sue Davidson told members that they were with-holding £32,000 worth of the funding from the £62,000 scheme, until the equipment had been repaired. She said: "They mended it and we went to have a look at it, but the weld had torn again. I know the children say they're not trashing it, but some of it is just dropping to bits.

"We have paid £30,000 and we have held £32,000 back until we are totally satisfied."

She added that Darlington Borough Council would take over responsibility for maintaining the play area and that they did not wish to hand it over to the authority if the equipment was not in satisfactory condition.

Play worker, Sarah Small, who works with children on the estate, told the meeting that the youngsters had insisted it was not them that were spoiling the play area.

A council spokesman told The Northern Echo that there had been vandalism at the site, as well as problems with equipment failing.

The firm working on the park has ordered replacement equipment, which is to be installed by the end of this month.

Partnership chairman Martin Landers suggested that once the equipment was repaired they could help ensure the area remains in good condition by involving young people in its upkeep.

"If we can get the young people involved by having their own committee called Friends of the Park, to go and keep an eye on it, pick up litter and things, maybe we can do something on this estate never done before."

The name of the company which supplied the equipment was not disclosed.