A mum has set up a petition and organised a public meeting to call for more investment for children’s play areas in her community.

Helen Conway has set up the Change.org campaign and says the playground at the Little Burton housing estate in Ashford is in a sorry state.

She says the area is routinely affected with broken glass, and the play equipment is now substandard. Some of the pieces of equipment have also been removed over the past few years.

She said: “Most of the equipment is the same as when the estate was first built, but there are no plans for the council to upgrade the play area.

“The petition is not an angry campaign, we want to see what we can do positively as a community to support ideas that would work.”

The petition has also sparked a debate about other playgrounds in the area, with fears that some are not due to see any cash for refurbishment.

Lou Roberts said the condition of the park in nearby Rylands Road is also poor, and says she has to drive to the parks in other areas such as Singleton for her children to play.

The campaign has so far been backed by more than 300 people, and Ms Conway hopes it will start a debate about getting further funding for parks which may have been overlooked.

A public meeting is due to be held tonight (Wednesday, February 7) at the Conningbrook Hotel at 7.30pm.