PARENTS have accused the council of putting children's safety at risk by failing to cough up enough cash to repair an "unsafe" play area.

Several pieces of equipment at the site in Christchurch Green have been found to need 'category one' repairs by council officers - which means they need replacing.

The swings - which are 15 years old - have been found to have metal fatigue, while wooden park benches at the site are beginning to rot.

Scott Shillum, of Cranbourne Avenue, has led a campaign to get the repairs done and was granted £5,000 by Area One Committee after handing in a 300 name petition.

But the father-of-two said the sum is just a drop in the ocean compared with the estimated £100,000 required to fix all of the play area's problems - and criticised the council for leaving the site in an unsafe state.

He said: "At the moment parts of the play area are unsafe it's as simple as that.

"Hundreds of parents use it and it's in a very poor state of repair at the moment.

"They have listed lots of category one repairs that need doing and yet all they have done is patch things up a bit which isn't enough.

"We are grateful for the money Area One has given us, but when you think the council has spent £10,000 or so on one tractor climbing frame alone, then it doesn't look much."

Mr Shillum said children in Wanstead could be left without any swings at all when the current apparatus is removed during the next 18 months - unless the council comes up with the money needed soon.

Mum-of-two, Jane Cresswell, of Chaucer Road, said she plans to take her children elsewhere until the site is properly fixed.

She said: "It's never been in a great state because it's so heavily used, but it's in a particularly bad way now.

"There aren't enough rubber safety mats down, and the apparatus is very worn looking."

The council has received a £1.1 million Government grant to create new 'natural' play areas across the borough - but said that none of this cash can be spent on repairing current sites.

A council spokeswoman said: "The council would never put children’s safety at risk and that is why the play area at Christchurch Green is inspected on a monthly basis by external contractors and any repairs are made on a priority need basis

"Council officers also visit the site every day and can report back any issues that may arise.

"All of the repairs that were assessed as needing prompt attention at the last inspection have either been carried out or are in the process of being carried out.

"As with any well used play facility, the equipment at Christchurch Green will need repairs over its lifetime but this does not mean it is unsafe to use.

"Officers have had discussions with residents about improvements to the play area and how best to use the £5000 funds committed through area committee one.

"Maintenance works are continually carried out when necessary to ensure the equipment is safe to use."