Jubilant families are celebrating victory in their battle over a 'forgotten' playground.

The run-down play area off Park Road, Little Horton will now be the subject of a full survey and safety check after a campaign launched by mum Jill Mardon was backed by nearly 200 local people, including a three-year-old girl with leukaemia.

Mrs Mardon, who has a five-year-old son, Karim, started her campaign because she was concerned the play area was unsafe.

When she approached Bradford Council and North British Housing Association, which owns the estate, both initially denied responsibility for the play area next to the Park Road medical centre.

It later emerged that "long standing confusion" over who was responsible for its maintenance had led to it being neglected. Both bodies have now pledged to work together.

A joint statement from them read: "We accept that the play area is in an unsatisfactory condition and North British Housing, which owns the land, intends to carry out a survey of the play area in the near future.

"Problems have arisen because of the long-standing confusion over the responsibility for maintenance. We recognise, however, that something must be done urgently, particularly regarding safety, and we will consult local residents on the viability of the play area and the future needs of the community."

Jill Mardon said: "This is fantastic news. In the shop where the petition is, a little girl of three who has leukaemia signed up. She insisted on her parents letting her sign the petition herself. She wrote six little squiggles - it was a struggle for her to write her name. Hearing about that choked me up and has made me even more determined.

"I won't be satisfied until I have been given dates. They have to be kept to a deadline."

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