ST Peter's Parish Council is still hoping to re-open a children's playground in Worcester as soon as possible.

Parts of the Area 51 play area in Power Park, St Peter's, have been fenced off for several weeks due to health and safety reasons caused by rotten wood and splitting timbers.

Replacement timbers will be provided for free by the timber company originally used, but the council is in discussion with contractors about the installation.

Paul Thorlby, chairman of the council, said at a meeting on Monday (March 30): "We believe this should all be done at no cost to the parish.

"The faults are a result of the original installation.

"It is my hope that we can resolve this without recourse to any formal procedures.

"When it gets to spring the closure will become a problem for families and children."

Area 51 was built in 2011 and opened by the then Mayor of Worcester David Tibbutt.

It was jointly funded by the playbuilder scheme, the Worcestershire health leadership fund and the parish council.

The underlying theme of the project was developed by the children of Cherry Orchard Primary School based on the English Civil War.

The play area is owned by the parish council while routine maintenance and inspection is undertaken by Worcester City Council.