ONE of Southampton's inner city roads is undergoing a £30,000 facelift to make it a safer place for children.

Wolverton Road in the Newtown Nicholstown area of the city - which was closed to traffic several years ago to provide a play area for local youngsters - is benefiting from a range of improvements.

Work on the scheme, which started yesterday, will provide new railings to help contain the play area and still allow pedestrians to walk along the road. A new wall is also being built at the western end.

The wall will be painted with cricket stumps and a football goal to provide more opportunities for local children and young people who use the area.

The works have been paid for with a grant from the Neighbourhood Renewal Area Fund.

Manager of the programme Saeed Poswall said: "The NRA fund was established to improve life for everyone who lives and works in the Newtown Nicholstown area. I hope these improvement works will have a positive impact on local families - particularly the young children who use the play area in Wolverton Road."

Southampton City Council's Cabinet member for housing and homes, Councillor Paul Russell, said: "A great deal of positive work has already taken place in this area, thanks to NRA funding, and the installation of increased safety measures such as the new wall and railings, will enable parents to be reassured that their children can play safely in this area."

Local residents with any queries regarding the works can contact either the local Neighbourhood Wardens on 023 8022 6001 or City Council engineer Tony Westgate on 023 8083 2534.