A POPULAR Worcester play area wrecked by suspected arsonists is set for a new lease of life after council chiefs promised a makeover.

Three months ago parents and children were left devastated when the Field Walk playground off Bath Road was destroyed in a blaze.

But now Worcester City Council says it intends to restore the site's dignity by investing in new equipment.

Back in March the fire caused £15,000 worth of damage, in an attack dubbed "a crime against the community".

The playground is by Cherry Orchard Primary School and had to be cordoned off due to the extent of the damage.

Battenhall Tory Councillor Steve Mackay, the Deputy Mayor of Worcester, said: "Whoever is responsible for that damage, arsonists should not be allowed to win.

"It's a great facility for parents and children alike, the last Conservative administration put extra resources into improving play areas so it will be very good news to see this happen."

No definitive timescale is being put on the project yet, but the leadership has pointed to it taking weeks rather than months.

Labour Councillor Jabba Riaz, the cabinet member for a clean, green and safe city said: "I've met with David Sutton (the head of the cleaner and greener department) and Louis Stephen (Battenhall's other city councillor) and said yes, this needs to be replaced.

"Some new equipment will be going in there. The procurement process shouldn't take months to do, it will be relatively straightforward."

The matter was also raised during a full council meeting where Councillor Mackay challenged Labour over releasing the cash needed to get the work done.

Councillor Riaz he "expected to see a replacement" once the new equipment had all been purchased.

Nobody was ever caught for the fire which ripped through the site after it took hold at around 9.30pm at night.

After the wreckage parents hit out at the mess, saying "hundreds of kids" would suffer from losing a popular play area.

Last year the council sunk an extra £148,000 into capital improvements at five Worcester parks, which included money for Field Walk.

It also included Diglis, Lansdowne Road, Middleton Gardens and the Green Centre in Dines Green.