CHILDREN'S facilities throughout a town could be transformed as a council plans to update all of its play areas.

Spennymoor Town Council has started a three-year review of the nine playgrounds it manages.

Instead of only repairing or replacing worn equipment so it is safe the council wants to update facilities to suit each neighbourhood.

Councillor Jim Smith, chairman of a play areas working group, said: "We want to make sure the sites are based on local people's ideas. We'll take three or four years looking at all nine play areas so our programme of refurbishment and updating is carefully planned.

"I feel they should be exciting and fun places, that engage and extend children, and for them to be well used they have to be what people want."

He said about £65,000 has been allocated for refurbishment each year and he expects bids to be made for external grants to fund improvements.

The authority is now working with Groundwork East Durham on the first stage of the review to improve facilities at Jubilee Park and Tudhoe Moor.

Project workers are urging the public to reveal views of both sites so future plans are based on local wishes.

Public displays about the proposals for Jubilee Park will be on show at Jubilee Park Bowls Pavilion, Spennymoor Town Council offices and Spennymoor Town Library until March 28.

Leah Remington, community project officer, said: "Play is a very important part of life and this is an opportunity to get it right in Jubilee park.

"We want as many different people as possible to help us make play in Jubilee Park exciting."

Public displays will be at Tudhoe Moor Nursery from April 9 to 17, and manned by Groundwork staff on Wednesday April 9, 10am to noon, and Thursday April 10, 4pm to 6pm.

The town council has already secured £25,000 from Durham County Council towards improvements in that area.