A new £30,000 play park has caused outrage online, with parents saying they need to watch their children like hawks to guard against accidents.

The equipment at Ball Field in Cranbrook, has stirred up a fury on Facebook due to it's 'scaffolding-like' structure.

The play area which opened January 17, took two weeks to complete and cost the council nearly £30,000 to build.

It was bought by Cranbrook and Sissinghurst Parish Council, who said it took the latest safety advice and spent 18 months consulting over it.

But Amy Drake, 34, who has taken her children to the park for more than three years, questioned why the council didn’t speak to parents and said she has been involved in rescuing a three-year-old from one of the platforms.

She added: “There’s only one railing around the top of the frame, so younger children could fall out of the side of it.

“Obviously we make sure to watch our children, but it is nice to let them go off and have independence. Now myself and others have to stand underneath, in case anyone falls.”

And mum-of-two Shelly Sutton, says the new frame is not suitable for younger children, leaving them disappointed.

She said: "This was an opportunity to change a tired, old play area into a more inclusive and diverse one for children to use.

"I'm sure the play area is great for older children, but they have spent a lot of money on equipment that limits what ages can use it."

The previous play area structure was made of wood and had to have pieces removed over the years due to decay.

In September, a report produced by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), stated the wooden multiplay equipment was 'dangerous' and recommend that it should be replaced.

Sarah Yockney, 63, visits the Ball Field regularly with her two-year-old grandson, and believes the parish council is not taking the situation seriously.

"The council missed an opportunity to contact two local primary schools and get their take on what sort of equipment would be suitable there.

"How could a play area that is so useless even get passed the approval stage? What a waste of money!"

Mel, 36, is a mum to a four and seven-year-old, and thinks the new play area is 'outrageous'.

"I emailed the parish council to express not only my concern, but also my disappointment at the new equipment. I received the same copy and pasted email that other parents got."

Mel has been going to Ball Field park with her family since 2015, however, now that it has changed, they have only been back once and future visits will now be 'few and far between'.

"I found it very stressful trying to keep an eye on both kids whilst they struggled to use the equipment, with my youngest getting quite upset not being able play like he could before."

The new equipment, manufactured by Proludic, states that it should only be used by children ages five and up.

However, at the entrance of the play area, a sign says that only children under the age of 14 can use the equipment.

Kim Fletcher, Chairman of Cranbrook & Sissinghurst Parish Council, said: "This is not something the council takes lightly.

"We spent 18 months consulting all the major suppliers and asked for a play area that would give similar challenges to the previous one for the children.

"Unfortunately we cannot please everyone and this will be something that the children will grow into..."

"The new equipment will not rot like the last one and will be harder to vandalise. It has also been checked with the British Safety Standards.

"Unfortunately we cannot please everyone and this will be something that the children will grow into."