YOUNGSTERS Charelle and Thomas Cooper have sent a petition to Burnley Council demanding a play area which has been in the pipeline for years.

Charelle, 12, and Thomas, 11, of Rutland Place, Padiham, have written to the council and sent their letter with a 55-name petition in support.

Their plea will be considered by Burnley's Recreation and Leisure Committee tonight.

In the letter the youngsters say the play area on land at Dorset Avenue was first asked for in 1995.

They say: "We have heard about other areas getting new play areas to replace those that they have wrecked in the past.''

They add that children in the Venice Avenue area are one example and that Stonemoor Bottom is another that has a brand new play area and ball park. Charelle and Thomas add: "We would love a ball park because everybody plays football on the street outside our house which can be noisy at night and our mum has to get up early for work.

"We sometimes play football in the field but it is very muddy and the ball sometimes rolls down the hill into the river and our clothes get very dirty.''

They write that some people say it will only get wrecked because children in other areas have wrecked theirs.

The children add: "But at least they have had one to wreck and they have even been given a second chance. We have never had a first chance."

They ask when a play area can be built and offer to help with the clearing of rubbish and the planting of trees and flowers.

A report to the recreation committee says final approval for funds for the scheme should come through before the end of the month.

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