CHILDRENS' safety is being put at risk by the state of Bromsgrove's play areas.

That is the view of a highly critical report from the district council's Culture and Community Task Group, which has condemned the safety and security of playing facilities around the town.

The report describes the state of some town play areas as "appalling", and reveals that play areas across the district are without minders to regularly check on the safety of apparatus, despite the council's wishes.

The task group also believes that Bromsgrove District Council's Culture and Community Services has failed to ensure residents receive value for money.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) was called in to inspect some of the equipment, following the publication of the report.

Councillor Peter McDonald (Lab-Waseley), who chaired the task group, which looks into the provision of amenities in the district, said the expected safeguards for play areas are not there and the council has not been given the right information.

"We have met members of the public and they thought the state of play areas were a disgrace," he said.

"The report shows that the safeguards one would have expected aren't there.

"There has been no communication or reporting of faulty apparatus, and most play areas haven't got a minder.

"We were led to believe that every play area has a minder.

"The process has been broken down as they are not being minded, and faults are not being rectified.," added Cllr McDonald.

"We are now making sure every play area is being checked, and there will be monthly and quarterly reports."

Acting chief executive, Kevin Dicks, said the council was acting immediately to address safety issues raised in the report, and that weekly inspections would be carried out.,"

"We have a duty of care, and we would love to have minders for every play area but it is very difficult.

"Inspections of play areas will now be weekly as opposed to monthly.

"If anyone can identify problems we want them to notify us.

"We are looking to display notices with contact numbers so we can be notified," said Mr Dicks.