MUMS and toddlers gathered for a barbecue in Blackbird Leys to celebrate the opening of a revamped play area.

Play equipment at the run-down playground in Falcon Close has been replaced by Oxford City Council at an estimated cost of £35,000.

About 30 people joined a launch party on Sunday organised by Falcon Close Residents’ Association.

The play area, designed for children under the age of six, is one of 87 across the city which the council is refurbishing as part of a three-year improvement programme launched in 2009.

Mum-of-two Nikita Wooster, 23, from Falcon Close, brought her son Kian Ahmed, three, to play on the new equipment, which includes swings, slide, a climbing frame and log walk.

She said: “We live in a block of flats so it’s nice to have somewhere like this to go after school.

“I think this little play area could make a big difference to people living in the street.”

Mum-of-two Claire Pithie, 34, from Falcon Close, who brought her two sons Connor, five, and Jordan, 15, to the launch, added: “This is a major improvement.”

Connor, a pupil at Orchard Meadow Primary School, said: “I really like playing on the tree stumps and the slide.

“I can come here after school.”

Mum-of-three Justine Hubbucks, 28, of Falcon Close, said: “The old play area was totally run down, the swings had been stolen and there was litter and graffiti everywhere. I hope people will look after the new one because it’s good for the children.”

Community development worker Lex Francis said: “Oxford Citizens Housing Association and the Catalyst housing group gave a donation to the residents’ association so that they could organise this launch.

“The city council paid for the refurbishment, and when you consider the funding cuts local authorities are making it’s good news that the work has been completed.”

She added that there were also plans to landscape an area known as the Mound in Falcon Close, so that people with disabilities and mums with pushchairs could use it as a short cut to the Kassam Stadium.

She added: “The residents’ association is being asked to support this proposal, but it hasn’t reached the planning stage yet.”

Scott Seamons, Labour city councillor for Northfield Brook ward, estimated that the revamp cost about £35,000 and added: “There are a lot of children living in Falcon Close, so this is very positive.”