A FAMILY is threatening legal action against Rossendale Council after a six-year-old boy was seriously injured falling from playground equipment in one of the valley's main parks.

Edward Codd spent eight days in Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Manchester, and needed surgery and a skin graft to repair a broken arm after he fell nine feet from the climbing frame in Stubbylee Park, Bacup.

Now his family is taking legal advice on whether they can claim damages from the council.

A spokesman for Rossendale Council confirmed the matter was now in the hands of the council's legal department.

Edward's mother, Mrs Sarah Codd, of Rochdale Road, Bacup, claims playground equipment in Rossendale's two main parks - Stubbylee and Whitaker Park, Rawtenstall - is unsuitable for small children.

In a letter to the council which will be discussed by the leisure committee tonight Mrs Codd described the equipment as old-fashioned and dangerous. Mrs Codd said Edward, a pupil at St Saviours School, Bacup, was now recovering from the accident which happened last month when he slipped from the climbing frame.

In her letter to the council, Mrs Codd, a mother of four, says: "With the exception of a small area on the Pennine Estate, so far I have only been able to find playgrounds containing old-fashioned, rusty, iron bar climbing frames, swings and huge heavy roundabouts.

"The one in Whitaker Park with seats on I believe is particularly dangerous and just waiting to take some child's knee out."

Borough Leisure Officer Arthur Marriott said a survey four years ago of the council's 40 playgrounds earmarked the equipment that needed replacing and for two years £60,000 was spent on replacements.

Most of the parks have safety surfacing and some new equipment.

Older equipment which still remains in some areas meets current safety standards and the council's own insurance company carries out an annual inspection, in addition to the council's own routine inspections every 10 days.

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