TWO stories hit the headlines on the same day a couple of weeks ago.

Preston's restored parks won a national award for excellence and local children enjoyed the benefits of a surge in healthy park-based activities organised by their schools.

Lancaster announced plans to close up to 19 playgrounds and, therefore, rob children of these facilities - leaving them facing the prospect of spending more time slumped in front of TV and computer screens growing even more obese. Enough said!

Mrs W Ward, Morecambe.