Work is to begin next month on a new £220,000 children’s playground in St Albans.

The attraction at Clarence Park will include over 35 exciting features including a rope bridge, musical bandstand, swings, cricket pavilion multi-play unit, slide and zip wire.

The play area was designed by specialist firm Kompan which was also the contractor for the new Verulamium Park play area.

Work on the Clarence Park project will begin on March 8 when the existing playground will be closed.

It is likely to take six to eight weeks to complete with the new play area ready for the summer.

The existing playground was installed around 25 years ago and St Albans District Council says it reached the end of its life.

The council, which owns the park, has worked on the project with community group Clarence Play, which helped organise efforts to raise funds and were consulted about the concept designs.

Councillor Anthony Rowlands, portfolio holder for leisure, heritage and public realm, said: !I am delighted that the construction of the new Clarence Park play area will soon be underway.

"It'a about time that this popular, flagship park had a new, first class playground that will be enjoyed by young children and their parents for many years to come.

"The new Verulamium play area has been a raging success and I have had nothing but positive feedback. I am confident this will be the case with the Clarence Park project, too."

The council’s city neighbourhoods committee, which manages community assets in the unparished area of St Albans, provided £137,500 from its budget.

Waste contractor Veolia provided a grant of £67,000 and the rest of the finance came from S106 payments, money contributed by property firms for community infrastructure.