PLANS for a £50,000 upgrade of a Hartlepool playground look set to be approved.

Old equipment at the play area, at the southern end of the Town Moor next to the bowls pavilion, needs to be replaced.

A survey by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) of all playgrounds in the town has recently been completed.

It found items on the Town Moor site failed the European standards.

Although this is not unlawful, it shows there is a need to modernise the facility.

The North Hartlepool Partnership has agreed up to £100,000 in funding for new play equipment.

The Block Sands paddling pool improvement has been allocated £50,000, with the remaining £50,000 allocated to the Town Moor play area.

A report to Hartlepool Borough Council's town management portfolio, which meets on Friday, said: "The aim of the project is to provide a high-quality replacement for the existing Town Moor play area, which reflects the local community's aspirations."

A contractor will be chosen for the work through a partnering agreement.

Once a contractor has been agreed, consultation will take place to establish the needs of the local community.

A design will be developed and further consultation will take place.

Councillors are asked to approve the development and a partnering agreement.