CHILDREN'S playgrounds across east Cleveland have had a £1m facelift.

All 21 sites have had safer surfaces installed and all the major sites have at least eight new pieces of equipment, including climbing frames, swings, roundabouts and seats.

The equipment was chosen with help from communities and ward councillors.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council invested £1m, and thanks to added investment from Sure Start, sites at Lazenby, Zetland Park and Liverton Mines have each had between £80-£100,000 spent on them.

Coun Dave Fitzpatrick thecouncil's member for culture, leisure and tourism, said: "This is a marvellous investment - a long time coming - for the community and I hope it engages parents and children."

Contributions from parish, town councils and friends groups have meant about £60-£70,000 investment at five other sites - King George V, Guisborough; Marshall Drive, Brotton; Redcar's Locke Park and Borough Park and Eston recreation ground.

Nine areas have benefited from £40-£50,000 worth of improvements. They are: The Garth, Brotton; Kennedy Crescent, Carlin How; Byland Road, Nunthorpe; Bankfields, Eston; Skelton Green, Skinningrove; South Park Wood, Normanby; The Stray, Redcar and Cleveland Street, Loftus.