WORK to install new play equipment worth more than £30,000 at a North Oxford recreation ground is set to begin shortly.

The Friends of Aristotle Lane Recreation Ground has successfully raised the money to buy equipment for older children.

A total of £38,000 has been raised, including a grant of more than £30,000 from Waste Recycling Environmental Limited (WREN).

The money is being used to install swings, monkey bars and a see-saw at the southern end of the recreation ground near Oxford Canal.

Chris Lavy, chairman of the Friends of Aristotle Lane Recreation Ground, said: “It will be play equipment for children over 12 years old.

“The toddlers’ play equipment is not very exciting and has a sign saying no one over 12 can use it.

“I started the Friends of Aristotle Lane Recreation Ground because my children liked playing football there and the surface was terrible.

“Our secretary Rosanne Bostock wanted her grandchildren to have swings here and she raised the money.”

Mr Lavy said the contractors had been visiting the recreation ground to decide when work could start and he said it would probably be completed in a month.

Funding for the project also came from the St Margaret’s Institute, former Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Sir Hugo Brunner and local city councillors Susanna Pressel, James Fry, Alan Armitage and Jim Campbell.

Mr Fry, whose ward includes the recreation ground, said: “When the main users of the rec were asked what they would most like to see added to the facilities, they put play equipment for older children as the top priority.

“The Friends of Aristotle Lane Rec have done a wonderful job raising the money needed, and I was delighted to be able to contribute one third of my first year’s councillor budget towards this very well used playground.”