CHILDREN on a Cumnor estate will soon be whizzing down a zip wire after demolition work began to tear down their dilapidated playground and replace it with a new £100,000 play park.

For years the Pinnocks Way play park in Dean Court has sported only a broken see-saw and two rusting climbing frames.

But in just six weeks children will have 18 new pieces of equipment to get to grips with, while new hedges will solve the drainage issues that left the park waterlogged and out of use for much of the winter.

Children from the area, who chose the equipment after visits to other play parks, will also benefit from new low-level lights to be installed on the back of the Dean Court Social Club so they can use the equipment during the winter afternoons.

Mother-of-four Karyn Quinn, 40, of Pinnocks Way, said: “We’re very impressed with it all.

“The park suffered from drainage issues, which restricted when the children could go, and now there’s also going to be lighting for them in the evening.

“The children are really looking forward to the park opening and there’s going to be so much equipment they’ll be spoilt for choice.

“The kids have been allowed to have a really big say in the whole project and our local councillors have been absolutely amazing to get the grant and involve the whole community.”

Equipment children will have to play on includes a six foot-high, 100 foot-long zip wire, a climbing frame, a slide, a bubble tube, a sandpit, a roundabout for disabled children and a new see-saw.

Cumnor and Appleton district councillor Judy Roberts said: “I’m hoping it will be really wonderful.

“A lot of the kids get into trouble because they’re bored.

“We hope when there’s an enormous amount of playground equipment on this site it will keep the children entertained.”

Parents will also benefit from new paths to be installed in the play park so they can wheel prams and buggies in muddy conditions.

The park has been funded by a £46,000 grant from the Government’s £235m Playbuilder scheme, a £50,000 cash injection from Wren (Waste Recycling Environmental) and £5,500 from Vale of White Horse District Council.

Parish clerk Jacqui Bock said: “Work has started on refurbishing the play park by demolishing the old equipment and that is being removed.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to improve facilities here and make it an exciting and enjoyable place for the community.

“The playground will be closed while the work is carried out, which is expected to take about five or six weeks.”

cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk