ENTERPRISING children on a Kendal estate have launched a petition calling for an improved playground.

The youngsters of Rinkfield say they want a ‘fun and safe’ place to play.

A section for babies and toddlers, new swings and a slide, a skatepark and a zip wire are among plans for the area which the children have drawn up themselves.

They say the issue of poor access to the current park means young people are playing in the streets and risking being knocked down.

Dean Gibson pupil Ellie Hardy, 11, started the petition and has gathered more than 50 signatures.

“We need somewhere safe to play,” said Ellie, “because a little boy was hit the other day and the next day there was a near miss.

“We also need better access because it’s hard for a lot of people to get to.

“At the moment it’s really run down and there are only three things to play on – it’s not fun at all.

“We really want this park and we want to fight for it.”

Local mum Shelley Allen said: “There should be something for all ages – I have a one-year-old daughter and there’s nothing for kids of her age to do.

“The grass is not maintained and access is really poor – we have to come down a slope which isn’t particularly safe.”

Taylor Daniels, 11, who attends Heron Hill Primary School, said the play area should also have a restricted age limit to ‘stop teenagers trashing it’.

Chairman of Rinkfield Action Group Gary Tomlinson suggested children draw up a plan of what exactly what they wanted, to present to South Lakeland District Council.

He said: “This is about the children of Rinkfield expressing what they want and we’re backing them.”