SECURITY cameras could soon be keeping an eye on children playing in Bolton's parks.

It follows a survey carried out by Bolton Council leisure chiefs at Queens Park.

Twelve out of 16 children questioned said they thought that the park was an unsafe place to play.

They were worried about strangers approaching children, drugs and glass in the play area.

A report presented to leisure services councillors said that children felt they would have been safer if "there was someone in authority watching".

Now council chiefs believe that security cameras could be the answer.

Labour Cllr Steve Hynes, leisure services vice chairman, said: "This is clearly something which people want and we will have to investigate if there is a way we can fund this."

Meanwhile, the council has received £27,043 from the Department of the Environment as part of the Safer Cities project to improve fencing in parks.

The leisure services department will contribute £10,068 towards it.

Cllr Hynes added: "Obviously, this is a start towards making parks safer."

The money will also go towards new planting to allow wider lines into and out of play areas.

The idea is also to make them attractive so that more people use them and they are safer.

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