THE play area at the Countryside Centre at Worcester Woods Country Park is open to children and families from today.

The popular children's play area has been closed for over 100 days due to the coronavirus pandemic. Although families still visited throughout lockdown for their daily exercise through the woods.

Last month the Orchard Cafe at the centre reopened for takeaway food and drink and was a hit with families and dog walkers desperate to get back to a sense of normality and routine.

Now children can finally visit the play area, complete with climbing frame, swings and a huge slide.

Other parks across the city are gradually opening. The popular play area at Gheluvelt Park and the one at Cornmeadow Lane have opened - while the junior play area, except for the climber, is open at Cripplegate Park.

The toddler play area remains closed while work is underway on new tennis courts.

Worcester City Council says it has to inspect 58 play areas but is hopeful all will re-open all of them within two weeks.

A spokesman said: “Children and parents across Worcester will be very excited about the reopening of play areas and we expect them to be very popular when they are all back in action.

“The Government issued guidance at the end of June that requires each individual play area to be assessed and any necessary action taken to make it as safe as possible.

“This means that re-opening play areas is not as simple as just removing the temporary fencing. Worcester City Council operates 58 play areas, games areas and outdoor gyms across the city, and we will work our way through each of them over the coming days."