BORED schoolchildren will have something to do during their summer holidays after a new £80,000 playground was opened.

The new playground in Southfields Recreation Ground was officially opened on Monday by Cllr John Delaney.

He said: "This is a great new facility for the local community and I hope that it becomes a much-loved and well-used part of the park.

"£80,000 has been invested so far to install the new playground and residents can look forward to further improvements later this year when the tennis courts are refurbished."

The new playground has been split into two distinct play areas, one for toddlers and one for juniors, and features the latest in adventure trails with spinning poles, climbing frames, springers, slides, see-saws and swings and it replaces the existing facilities in the north-east corner of the park which have now been removed.

Parents are also catered for with new picnic tables and seats, all within a contoured landscaped setting which is partially surrounded by large trees.