The children’s playground at Battersea Park is to re-open during the forthcoming school half-term holiday with phase one of the refurbishment now complete.

The modernised playground, which has been fitted with exciting new play equipment, is scheduled to re-open to the public on May 25.

The improvement programme is not completely finished and additional works will be undertaken in the coming weeks.

Children's services spokesman Cllr Kathy Tracey said: "We wanted to open the playground in time for the half-term holidays so that young visitors to the park would be able to enjoy the new play equipment.

"Phase one of the refurbishment is now complete. We hope to complete phase two, which involves the installation of some more play equipment and some landscaping in time for the start of the school summer holidays, although this is largely dependent on the weather.

"When it is all finished I am sure that it will prove very popular with children and their families."

As well as installing new play equipment at the playground, the council is also pursuing ambitious plans to introduce more exciting attractions for young people.

Discussions are continuing which could see the introduction of climbing walls and an aerial walkway or 'tree walk' facility at the playground.

This would utilise high wires and harnesses to enable young people to enjoy a series of high rise challenges under the supervision of properly trained adults.

And the council is looking to provide additional attractions inside the playground's vacant play building.

This could involve using it as a venue for exciting hobbies and pastimes like dance and drama classes, singing and music tuition, clown and circus trick workshops and others popular with young people. These could be provided by local voluntary groups, charities, professional tutors and entertainers.

The other half of the building is also set to be transformed into a child and family friendly café with an outdoor play area for toddlers.

As part of the wider revamp of play facilities in Wandsworth, the Kimber Road playground is to be transformed this summer into a skatepark and BMX bike track, while its play building is set to be used as a venue for skateboarding classes run by professional tutors.

York Gardens playground also underwent extensive refurbishment works which were completed earlier this year.

The council manages more than 200 playgrounds and play areas in parks, commons and housing estates across Wandsworth.