A turf-cutting ceremony has been held to mark the start of construction work on a new £350,000 adventure playground in Blackpool's Stanley Park.

Funded through the government's Play Pathfinder Programme, the facility has been designed with the help of local children and is poised to include zip lines, obstacle courses, streams and water features. Around 600 people participated in a public consultation exercise held by Blackpool Council, which expects the scheme to take 12 weeks to complete and will also include "artistic" landscaping.

Blackpool Council cabinet member for culture and communities Tony Williams said: "A number of playgrounds have already been improved across the town but this project will create a brand new facility that local children haven't had before. "Giving young people an opportunity to play in a safe, fun environment is a perfect way to help them socialise and keep active. I look forward to seeing Blackpool residents enjoying the new playground facilities in the near future."