PLAY areas in the Ribble Valley are to receive major improvements from today

Ribble Valley Borough Council is starting improvement works on the play area within Clitheroe Castle grounds.

And from Monday, March 15, work on Clitheroe play areas at Low Moor, Hawthorn Place, Salthill and Mearley Syke will begin.

Proctors Field in Whalley and Mardale Road in Longridge will also see a facelift.

Deteriorating equipment is being replaced, with most sites benefiting from the introduction of new equipment which can be used by disabled children.

Dish style roundabouts, springies with back supports, play panels and modified play units are being installed to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act.

The units will enable able-bodied and children with disabilities to play together.

Play areas will remain open during the improvements and any areas of work will be securely fenced off.

Graham Jagger, engineering manager with the council, said that the time of year chosen to carry out the work was a quiet time.

And it was the most suitable in terms of the weather conditions.