PLAY facilities for youngsters in part of North Yorkshire are getting a £165,000 boost.

The money is being spent on a series of projects in Ripon following consultation with local children, parents and schools.

Harrogate Borough Council has just completed a £36,000 replacement of play equipment at Paddies Park on St Magdalens Road, work is underway on a natural play space at Quarry Moor Park and plans are progressing for improvements to the play area in Spa Park.

Funding of £50,000 for the new natural space play area at Quarry Moor has come from North Yorkshire County Council via a Playbuilder grant from the Department of Children, Schools and Families.

The county, borough and city council are working together to provide the natural play space for children aged eight to 13.

Contractors Playdale started on site in January and work is expected to be completed by the end of February.

There will be mounds and tunnels to explore and equipment will include a jungle climber, an aerial runway, a variety of swings and a challenging trail.

The play area at Spa Park will also see major investment and improvement.

A Playbuilder grant of £49,000 has been topped up with £30,000 by the borough council. Proposals for this £79,000 project are currently being worked on and it is hoped work will be completed by the end of December.