PLAY areas in Hampshire are to receive a £420,00 upgrade.

Test Valley Borough is making the investment in new equipment and new designs for play areas at Romsey, Valley Park and North Baddesley.

Violet Close in Valley Park will get a full refurbishment of the play area to include equipment, surfacing and fencing.

The proposed equipment includes two multi play climbing units with slides, swings, roundabout, play panels, springers and seesaw. Aimed at infant and junior ages the new play area will offer a progression in risk and excitement.

Lavington Gardens Teen Zone in North Baddesley will see design improvements in the existing facilities for teenagers, to make them more challenging and exciting as well as new equipment that will have a safety surfacing beneath.

Improvements are also planned for pay sites in and around Andover in the north of the borough.

This month will see work begin at Memorial Park, Romsey on an exciting climbing frame - the only other one like it is in the National Memorial Arboretum.

Community and Leisure Portfolio Holder, Councillor Tony Ward said: “ It is really important that the children and young people in our borough not only have somewhere safe to play and enjoy but that they also benefit from equipment that is exciting and fun to use. The improvements taking place are as a result of consultation with local people and I am delighted that we are investing a significant amount of money into these schemes across the Borough.”

The public are currently being consulted on the final designs for the North Baddesley and valley park schemes which can be viewed at testvalley.gov.uk/communityandleisure/play-area-refurbishments-2016.