A SPATE of injuries suffered by teenagers using a controversial new sports facility in the New Forest has sparked calls for extra safety cover.

Hampshire Ambulance Service says its crews are receiving regular calls to a £700,000 adventure centre that has been built at Bartley Park, Totton.

Concern has been expressed by the League of Venturers search and rescue unit, which provided medical cover on the day the facility opened.

Chief executive Philip Pearce-Smith said: "I had considerable misgivings from the safety point of view and voiced them at the time.

"It looks like what I said then has come to pass." Mr Pearce-Smith, who is also chairman of Fawley Parish Council, said a serious accident could occur when the centre's warden was off duty.

He added: "There's no way we would allow a facility like that at Fawley unless it was supervised all the time."

But Totton and Eling Town Council said the centre was safe as long as it was used sensibly. Town clerk Derek Biggs said the design had been approved in advance by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

But the next meeting of the council's amenities committee will discuss a range of proposals to improve safe-ty and security at the site.

The centre, which was opposed by local residents, includes facilities for youngsters who want to take part in skateboarding and other "risk" sports.

An ambulance service spokesman said crews received several calls in quick succession after the facility first opened in April.

She added: "It's tailed off a bit since then but we're still being called to the park about once a week.

"Most of the injuries involve very bad sprains or broken wrists."

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