A PLAYGROUND which many residents feared had been lost forever will be reinstated this autumn following a delay, council bosses confirmed.

Housing giants Keepmoat is building 132 homes across three sites in Burnley Wood, and the playground, off Brunswick Street, was moved in September last year to make way for an access road Although Burnley Council promised to return it, many local residents were concerned it would be forgotten.

But now the council has confirmed that work on the new park will begin in a few months.

The existing playground equipment will be repainted and put back and before the park officially re-opens, children from nearby Springfield Community School will help to plant summer wildflowers, trees and spring flowering bulbs when they return to school in September.

Coun Paul Campbell, who represents Rosehill and Burnley Wood said: “The re-opening of the park is great news for the local area and it's another promise kept by this Labour council.

“The many wild rumours about the park being scraped can now be put to bed.

“As chairman of Springfield Community Primary School I'm really happy we've been able to involve our children in its re-opening.

“I'm looking forward to us planting bulbs, wild flowers and trees, so the park can be enjoyed by everyone; even if you’re too big for the slide.”

Councillor John Harbour, executive member for leisure and culture said: “Firstly, I would like to apologise to the children around that area because I was hoping that this work would have been completed for the holidays.

“Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, the play area will not be completed until the autumn, but I want to reassure residents that work will be commencing very soon.

“This is just another phase in the on-going regeneration of Burnley Wood.”