WORK on a long-awaited £200,000 new playground at Colchester’s Castle Park will start later this month.

The new creation, voted for by children and parents in a consultation last autumn, is set to be opened by the Easter holidays with work starting on Monday, January 17.

Once complete, youngsters will be able to fly along the Double Dino aerial runway and roam around a castle-themed multi-play area with drawbridges and Drax the dragon challenges.

It will be placed to the south of the existing playground, which has been used by young Colcestrians for the past 20 years.

Tina Dopson, councillor responsible for communities, said: “This is an exciting time for Castle Park, residents and visitors.

“The existing play area, although much appreciated and well used, was in need of replacement, so that we could continue to provide facilities for younger people.

“I appreciate the feedback that we have received from residents and visitors.

“When consulting on the designs, 69 per cent of those people who took part voted for the castle-themed design and we are looking forward to providing a wide range of play opportunities in the spring.”

The playground, funded by Colchester Council, developers and the Government, will also have a sensory zone with a sandpit and musical instruments, a group basket swing, climbing ropes and a super rope swinger.

The playground site is being moved partly because the existing one lies above Roman remains which archaeologists now think could be a waterworks.

Last year, the Colchester Archaeological Trust dug a series of holes to establish the route of a Roman Road and drain, which ran down to Duncan’s Gate.

Weekly photos and progress reports will be at www.

colchester.gov.uk/castleparkplay