Police, councils, health trusts, and charities teamed up to hold a children's play conference in Bradford to look at ways of allowing children to play outdoors safely.

The conference, set up by Play England, a project of the Children's Play Council, was held at the Great Victoria Hotel, on Bridge Street, to further the cause of children's play in the region and discuss how children's lives can be improved through play opportunities.

Chris Snell, regional programme and development officer for Play England, said: "Children's play is a serious matter, with children getting cautioned for chalking on the street and cars colonising the places where children used to play street games. Children's play has been under the knife for many years.

"The recent UNICEF report told us that our children are the unhappiest in Europe and we know that children's physical activity and obesity levels are amongst the worst in Europe.

"It is obvious to us all that something needs to be done."

The group are pressing for more and better play facilities for children.

South Yorkshire Police discussed their innovative mobile youth shelters at the conference, alongside Bradford City Council's play pod concept.

Councillor John Cole (Lib Dem, Baildon), called for every local authority to have a Play Champion to fight for children's play, when threatened by building developments or other adult priorities.

The region has been allocated just over £12 million by the Big Lottery Fund to develop free, inclusive play in Yorkshire and Humberside.

Play England is a five-year project with the aim of providing children and young people across the country to have regular access for free, inclusive, local play provision and space.

The Children's Play Council is part of the National Children's Bureau and is supported by the Big Lottery Fund.

For more information visit www.playengland.org.uk.