THOUSANDS of youngsters in Wyre Forest will benefit from two innovative new play projects funded by lottery grants of more than £200,000.

The Wild Walshes Play Project will lead to the creation of an unusual natural play area at the Layamon Walk site in Barnfield Road, Stourport-on-Severn.

The plans include a BMX track and stone monoliths - groups of large standing stones, as well as new seating and landscaping.

The Big Lottery Fund has awarded Wyre Forest District Council a grant of £102,189 for the project.

The authority is working with the Community Housing Group, which owns the land and has contributed £30,000 towards the scheme.

Meanwhile children living in rural and deprived areas of the district will also be offered more play opportunities, as a further £105,611 lottery grant is funding the Play Ranger Project.

The three-year scheme will enable children who live in places where there is little or no play provision to play close to their homes, with free supervised sessions. It is anticipated the projects will benefit almost 5,000 children in the district.

Councillor Nathan Desmond, cabinet member for community and leisure services said: "We do have good services for play in the area, but there is much more that we can do to give children the opportunity to access and enjoy a wide variety of play.

"This grant enables us to set up these exciting new projects, and help children to gain greater social skills and respect for others and their environment through play."