CHILDREN in Halesowen are channelling people power to transform a derelict piece of land into a play area.

Families living in Fatherless Barn Crescent have to travel to Huntingtree Park for the nearest playground so have set about cleaning up the nearby patch of wasteland.

The land, between Fatherless Barn Crescent and Cradley Fields, is owned by the Dudley Council and used to house garages.

To show they were serious over twenty children accompanied by two of their parents, Roxanne Horan and Sarah Hart, helped clear the land of rubbish.

They were helped by Hayley Green and Cradley South Councillor Andrea Goddard and Halesowen South Councillor David Vickers.

Hayley Green and Cradley South Councillor Andrea Goddard praised the families involved.

She said: "It was a fantastic turn out of the local children, they worked hard to clean up the area, and they showed real commitment to keeping it clean.

"What is a derelict area could become a play area, adjacent to the street where they live."

She added: "When I canvassed the children they favoured a skate park or somewhere they could use their tracker bikes."

Halesowen South Cllr David Vickers added: "Three full bags of rubbish were collected on the day which was great.

"The parents have said "give us this land, and we will see what we can do with it" and neighbouring residents were also keen to see it be reclaimed from dereliction and to be used by the local children."

He added: "It is important that children have a place close to home to play safely."