THERE was plenty of clowning around at the opening of a new park play area.

Children aged four to 13 took part in the event at the playground in Fern Street, Farnworth, which has been given an £80,000 makeover.

The fun day was part of a half-term play scheme and included a circus skills workshop featuring tight-rope walking, stilts and juggling.

There were also arts and crafts activities and crazy costumes. Both the event and the revamp have been funded by a Big Lottery grant.

Local children helped to design the play area and they had their say on what kind of equipment should be included.

It is one of eight in the Farnworth, Halliwell and Crompton wards to benefit from £450,000 of lottery funding.

Play areas in Farnworth Central Park and Thomasson Park in Halliwell are expected to be ready by the end of April.

The sites were identified as a part of the council's play area strategy, which has earmarked 15 sites across the borough for either new or refurbished facilities.

Finished playgrounds include Moss Lane and Bank Top Park in Kearsley, Astley Bridge Park, Old Station Park in Horwich, Heron's Way in Great Lever and Westhoughton Central Park.

Cllr Elaine Sherrington, Bolton's executive member with responsibility for parks, said: "The Big Lottery Fund has given our existing programme a huge boost and means that we are now providing versatile facilities and play schemes that will appeal to children from a wide age group.

"I am confident that by encouraging more children to play outdoors we will not only get to grips with difficult issues around child health and obesity but also encourage children to play together."