A CHILDREN'S play facility was unveiled on Teesside this week.

Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar opened the Sure Start outdoor play centre, in Coulby Newham, on Tuesday.

The leisure facility, based at the Manor Youth and Community Centre, had been identified as a priority by local parents.

Mr Kumar said: "I know that this has been something that local people have been pressing for over past years. Indeed, I can remember getting a round robin letter from youngsters on the estate, calling for just such a facility to be provided. Now, this is in being.

"Sure Start has been one of the great successes of this Government. Working in partnership with local parents, councils, schools and pre-school providers, it has pioneered a holistic approach to pre-school child development, allowing parents access to nursery services, child health facilities and play provision.

"It has enabled parents to return to employment, secure in the knowledge that their children are being cared for.

"Sure Start has put real resources into an area of social development that is vital to all our futures - and that is the need to see a new generation of strong, healthy and motivated youngsters coming into the school system."