Funding has been agreed to pay for the drainage of a water-logged recreation ground in North Oxford so children can play there all year.

For years, part of the Aristotle Lane playing field has become waterlogged during the winter because of poor drainage.

Residents complained to councillors about the muddy pitch at the north area committee more than two years ago and now a new drainage system has been designed.

Councillors have agreed to pay for the drains and a pump costing £44,000, using money donated by developers Berkeley Homes. It will be topped up by £1,500 from the area committee.

Two years ago, Liz Cairncross, of Kingston Road, said her son Calum Pinder enjoyed playing football on the recreation ground, but was often unable to do so during winter months.

He and his friend Robert Johnson called for coun- cillors to find a solution. Fellow parent Andrew Nairne said yesterday: "I'm delighted that a solution has finally been found, because there aren't many places for youngsters to play around here, and this is a good place for kids to play football."

Councillors at this month's north area committee were told by leisure services manager John Wade that a drainage system had been designed that would pump excess water into a nearby waterway.

He said: "British Waterways has granted the city council permission to pump the excess water into the waterway and an electric supply will have to be linked to the sump and pump from Aristotle Lane itself."

Most of the recreation ground will have to be closed six months after the drainage system has been installed to allow the system to settle and the ground to recover.

No date has been set for the work, but it could begin in October.