TWO revamped playgrounds have been opened for schoolchildren to enjoy in the district.
After a consultation with residents, Braintree District Council carried out a £40,000 renovation to the playgrounds in Fisher Field, Braintree, and in Bramble Road, Witham.
The transformation came as part of the council's Green Heart of Essex campaign to improve children's play facilities and was funded from its capital play area budget.
Both play areas were opened on Tuesday with children from local primary schools testing them out.
Witham town councillor, Bill Rose, attended the reopening of the area in Bramble Road.
He said: "It looks great. There was a good bunch of children who were all enjoying themselves.
"When we first floated this, the idea was to maybe put half a dozen trees and some seating areas in too.
"When the summer comes people can sit and have some shade and keep an eye on their children."
Now the play areas, which are designed for young children, include items such as a wheelchair-accessible roundabout, a wobble board, a four-way seesaw, small slide unit, and three musical panels.
New safety surfacing and litter bins have also been installed and all the equipment and the play area comply with the latest European safety standards.
Councillor Wendy Schmitt said: "It's great to see local children enjoying these wonderful new play areas.
"It's so important to give children somewhere they can have fun and get active and equally important for parents to know they are in a safe environment, always a high priority for us in the design of the new play areas."
