WORK on upgrading Kidderminster's Borrington Road playing fields can now get under way, following the reaching of a £200,000 cash target.

Confirmation this week of £75,000 of funding from Living Spaces meant the Offmore Comberton Action Group - OCAG - could look forward to a range of improvements to the site.

They will include major new play facilities for two to 12-year-olds, skateboarding facilities for older youngsters and a nature reserve. Other features include a dog walking area and multi-use games area.

Living Spaces is a scheme funded by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to help people improve their local environments.

Councillor Mike Oborski, OCAG chairman, described the news as "great" for Offmore and Comberton and the surrounding area, adding: "This project will make a really enormous difference to the quality of life in the area."

He went on: "Police action and the use of anti social behaviour orders have dramatically improved the situation across Offmore and Comberton and, very particularly, in the Burcher Green area of Kidderminster and now we are able, at last, to launch work to provide the community facilities for all age groups, which we really need.

"We are really grateful to all those agencies and organisations who have rallied round with funding and support."

The group's vice-chairman, Rev Hugh Burton, said: "I am absolutely delighted we've got the grant from Living Spaces. For some years, a number of us had been hoping to see a really good facility for young people in the area.

"But a lot of people believed that nothing would ever happen. Then, Offmore and Comberton Action Group was started.

"It brought together people with different knowledge and skills. We realised that, together, we might be able to get things moving. It will be really exciting to see the plans realised."

The area's beat manager, PC Bob Fearnell said: "The project has come about because everyone has really worked together to tackle the issues in the area and get them sorted.

"The improvements in the area are a great example of what can be achieved when the police and the local community work together."

Work on the refurbishment will begin immediately - managed and carried out by Wyre Forest Community Housing - with the facilities due to be ready by the school summer holidays.

The views of young people on the Comberton estate and at local schools were taken into account in putting together the package of improvements. Two public exhibitions were also held, enabling residents to have their say.

Among organisations helping fund the project are Kidderminster Youth Trust, Wyre Forest Community Safety Partnership, Wyre Forest District Council and Wyre Forest Community Housing.