FAMILIES hoping to use a popular children's play area on Christmas Day were left disappointed when they found the site was still covered in ice.

The facility, in Christchurch Green, Wanstead, is traditionally heavily used by parents on December 25 to give their children a break from the festive celebrations - but an apparent lack of gritting has left the area too slippery to use.

A woman from Spratt Hall Road, who did not want to be named, had hoped to take friend's two-year-old daughter to play on the swings after breakfast but was shocked to find ice still on the ground.

She said: "I would have thought the ice would have gone by now.

"You would have thought they'd have cleared the rest of it up or put down extra grit.

"It's very slippery and unusable for small children. It's also dangerous for some older children using the play area without adults."

No-one at the council was available for comment today (Christmas Day).