CHILDREN will be swinging from the trees in Oxford again as a popular playground reopens after a massive revamp.

The South Oxford Adventure Playground (SOAP) landed £90,000 last year to replace worn-out equipment.

Now the transformation is complete, with wooden towers, scramble nets, a tree-top platform and a hut to be used by community groups.

Darcey Snape, eight, said: “It’s really awesome and I don’t think any other playground has stuff like it.

“My favourite bit is all the ropes, I’ve been climbing a lot.”

Mum-of-two and committee member Leanne Kelly said: ”We are really excited that SOAP is reopening and can’t wait to see the children’s reactions to the new equipment.”

The playground in Whitehouse Road opened in 1965, aiming to provide a place for children to enjoy supervised play.

It is open during school holidays and after school from April until October.

Ms Kelly said: “It’s a beautiful space. But before this revamp, older kids aged 10 onwards weren’t coming anymore.

“We wanted something much more adventurous.

“We get a lot of deprived kids who are left here during the holidays and we needed more space for them to do activities.”

The playground revamp was funded with £47,000 from Oxfordshire County Council, £25,000 from Oxford City Council and £19,300 from the Oxfordshire Stronger Communities Fund.

Work has taken two months.

Ms Kelly said: “All our playworkers here are trained, so children can be left. It can be nice not to have your parents around.

“That doesn’t happen much for this generation, so I think they appreciate a bit of time when mum and dad aren’t around.”

The play area will be officially opened by MP for East Oxford Andrew Smith today.

He said: “SOAP is a much-loved playground and is highly valued by families across Oxford, particularly during the long summer holidays.

“The more challenging play facilities will extend the playground’s appeal to older children and the hut will allow it be used whatever the weather.”

The playground is open every weekday from 9am until 5pm from July 25 until September 2.

For more information, visit soapoxford.org.uk.