A POPULAR play area is to get a £113k facelift.

Long awaited work is now underway to transform Gorse Hill play area after the scheme received an additional £40,000.

The overhaul will include installing new equipment, safety flooring, fencing and the planting new trees.

Friends of Gorse Hill Park, together with The One Trafford Partnership ­— Trafford Council and Amey ­—won a bid of £41,168 for improvements at the park.

The grant, which has been awarded by Viridor Credits via the Landfill Communities Fund, has been added to the existing funding of £72,000 ­— meaning more than £113,000 will be invested in the play area.

And to help pick the best and most appealing play area equipment, schoolchildren were asked to choose the new equipment.

The play area will now include a tyre swing, an aero whirl, a space ball netted climbing frame, new balance beams, slides and a see-saw.

Additionally, new grass areas will be laid and trees will be planted to increase green space in the play area.

Executive Councillor for Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change, Cllr Stephen Adshead said: "We are really pleased that Viridor Credits have recognised how valuable Gorse Hill Park is to the community, particularly families, children and local schools.

"The project will see a number of brand new pieces of equipment which will no doubt have a positive impact on the play time enjoyed at the park. A huge thank you to Gorse Hill Primary School, St Teresa’s Primary School, Kings Road Primary School, St Ann’s RC Primary School, Victoria Park Junior School and Stretford High School for their input into the bid and the design consultations."

Paula Pearson, Friends of Gorse Hill Park, said: "We are delighted and so excited to know that the work on our new park playground is about to start. It has had huge community involvement in reaching this point, particularly local school children who voted for which equipment would be installed. As well as the new play items, some of our old and much loved equipment will be restored, and reinstated, which pleases many parents who grew up with them, making it a very beloved and unique playground. We'd like to thank One Trafford who have turned ideas into reality, and Viridor Credits and Trafford Council for funding our park. Once completed, families will have fun playing safely in Gorse Hill Park."

Gareth Williams, Operations Manager at Viridor Credits said: "The Friends of Gorse Hill Park have put a lot of time and effort into ensuring that this project reaches fruition.

"The whole community will benefit from the wonderful play area they will create."