A NEWLY refurbished play area in Sandbach is now ready for action after reopening.

The borough council's Streetscape team has revitalised the play area at Newall Avenue, adding some artistic entrance features and state of the art equipment.

Working with artists, local children have designed their own features for the area and helped choose the equipment.

The upgrade was carried out after eleven-year-old Joe Potts collected a petition calling for the improvements.

Greenscape development officer Alistair Cook said: "The council has a five year play area redevelopment programme and this is one of the first two to be completed.

"Both of them feature the children's designs, which give the two sites very definite and different identities.

"Without a doubt they are unique and I hope the youngsters who use the play areas will be proud of them."

The Newall Avenue facility sports a steel entrance arch created by Ormskirk artist Stephen Charnock.

The transformation has cost some £45,000, which has come from the council's capital programme.

Amongst the new facilities are traditional equipment such as swings and a roundabout, but also a spring mobile and multi-play unit with a slide, scramble net and fireman's pole.