A £25,500 grant has been secured to transform a Lostock children’s play area.

The funding from the government’s ‘pocket parks plus’ scheme will bring a complete transformation to the site, with new activities for children and families to enjoy.

It is hoped that work will be complete by May, with the installation of new swings, springers, seating, fencing, a new safety surface, a seesaw and trim trail among the changes.

Northwich Town Council took over the running of many of the town’s play areas from Cheshire West and Chester Council last year on a long-term lease.

Cllr Andrew Cooper, chairman of the town council’s amenities committee, said: “I’m delighted we will be able to make these improvements for local kids, parents and grandparents.

“Victoria Street Play Area will be the sixth play area we’ve refurbished in the last five years, and this continues to demonstrate our commitment to providing the best and safest play facilities to the children of Northwich.

“Victoria Street was only acquired by the town council last year, and I’m pleased we’ve been able to deliver improvements so quickly.”

Town clerk, Chris Shaw, told members at a town council meeting that £1,750 funding had also been received from Oakmere Toyota, with £1,000 from JP Ceramics and £4,500 fund-matching in kind from the council.

Thanking the two companies, he added: “It will be a really good transformation.”

Shelley Eastwood from Oakmere Toyota said: “We are delighted to help obtain funding from Toyota GB towards the cost of refurbishment of Victoria Street play area in Lostock.

“As a family-run business established for over 40 years we are very honoured and proud to be able to contribute to our community.”

Jim Powell from JP Ceramics said: “We proud to support this project to refurbish Victoria Street Play Area from an underused site to a fantastic play space for the whole community to enjoy.”

Among the other parks also taken over by NTC are Burnside Way and Verdin Park.

While the council continues to seek funding for Burnside Way changes, it has taken the project management of the Verdin Park improvements in house.

The decision follows a design tendering process which produced no clear winner, with a vote by schoolchildren identifying preferred equipment instead of a complete plan.

The first phase of work will see improvements to the toddler area.