CHILDREN'S play areas will be under the microscope during two public meetings to decide the future of youth entertainment in Worcester.

The city council consulted with Birmingham firm Inspire to draw up innovative plans for a number of play and out-of-school leisure schemes for under 16-year-olds.

The draft proposals are now complete and members of the public can view the options, and offer their input, at two meetings organised for Tuesday, September 21.

If successful, the council hopes the consultation process will act as a blueprint for other towns and cities across the UK.

"Everybody is welcome to attend, so if you want a say in the future of play in Worcester, make sure you are at one of the two venues," said Jude Langton, the city council's Community Development Worker for Play.

"At the end of the day, it's those views that will be shaping the final strategy for Worcester and, possibly, the rest of the UK too."

The council is hoping to attract Government cash to help the project deliver groundbreaking facilities in parks and open spaces, as well as indoor schemes.

"It's the suggestions from parents and teachers that will make up the most convincing arguments and will form the basis of our strategy for the next five years and beyond," said Ms Langton.

"That's why it's important that as many interested people as possible take advantage of this opportunity to give us their vision of the proposals being presented."

Andrew Toon, of Inspire, added that there were no pre-conceived ideas as to how the strategy developed.

"It all depends on what comes out of the reaction to our draft proposals and other comments that come out of the sessions we've planned," he said.

The two September 21 sessions will be held at the Green Centre, in Dines Green, from 2-5pm, and at the Fairfields Centre, in Fairfield Close, Brickfields, from 6-9pm.