A NEWLY-REFURBISHED playground could benefit from a residents' 'park watch' scheme in a bid to deter vandals and anti-social behaviour.

Parents group The Friends of Wellcroft are looking to form a 'park watch' in Tealbeck Park, just weeks after the park received a major make-over.

Their five-year campaign to make the playground safe for youngsters became a reality recently when Leeds City Council pulled out old play equipment and introduced new swings, roundabouts a see-saw and soft surfacing underneath.

Otley teenager Mark Hearne had suffered horrific head injuries five years ago when he fell off the monkey bars in the park and was hospitalised for a week with a badly bruised brain, leading to the formation of the Friends of Wellcroft.

Friends member Pat Foster said: "It is a very busy time for us. We want to form a park watch, which could be an extension of our neighbourhood watch scheme. Everybody who uses the park would have a responsibility to report things."

Ms Foster said that she was hoping to set up a meeting with Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator at Weetwood Police, Peter Kruishniak, to discuss the possibilities.

"I don't know what form it will take at the moment. It could be that residents patrol the park, but legally I don't know where we stand on it."

She added that the first phase of improvements at the park had now been completed and that she was pleased the playground was open in time for the summer holidays.

An appeal for local businesses to buy a square metre of soft surfacing at £35 each to allow the rest of the playground to be covered was launched three weeks ago. The surfacing newly-laid on the playground was funded by the council and £4,000 from the Friends.

Plans for phase two of the improvements include a basketball court, and phase three a toddlers' area.

Ms Foster has also asked for the adjoining recreation ground to be marked up for summer sports in time for the school holidays.

Otley Town Mayor Councillor Philip Coyne has already offered to officially open the park. Last year, the Wharfedale Observer's Play It Safe Campaign lobbied Leeds City Council to install soft play surfacing underneath all pay equipment in parks across Wharfedale, Aireborough and Horsforth.

l Anyone interested in sponsoring a square metre of safety surfacing can contact Pat Foster on (01943) 464445. Alternatively, readers can send cheques, made out to the Friends of Wellcroft, to Wellcroft Appeal, Wharfedale Observer, 9 Orchard Gate, Otley LS21 3NX.