Concerned campaigners have warned time is running out for a Halesowen park's £1.8million restoration plan.

Members of the Friends of the Leasowes claim some of the historic park's features could be lost forever if work to restore them is not started soon.

Ambitious proposals to return the park to how it looked in William Shenstone's heyday in the 1740s have encountered a series of problems since they were first announced a decade ago.

Marianne Diller, who is chairman of the Friends of the Leasowes, confirmed the group had asked Halesowen Area Committee for a detailed breakdown of how the money has been spent.

Marianne said: "It is extremely disappointing - it has been 11 years and as yet no significant work has been carried out within the park."

"We feel we are being robbed of the chance to completely revamp the place."

The group has already been told there is no longer enough cash to rebuild the Virgil's Grove dam, while it is still not clear whether a contractor has been appointed to carry out the work.

Marianne added: "The conditions are such that work can only take place between November and March - so it does not look like we will get anything done soon.

"Some of the lakes will soon be reduced to streams and some of the features could be lost forever."

A spokesman for Dudley Council said: "We are finalising the details with the preferred tender at Leasowes, before awarding the contract ready to start work in spring.

"Construction work cannot take place in the stream courses between October and April, for environmental reasons such as flooding risk and fish migration.

"The £1.8 m scheme involves the recreation of the 18th century dam, cascade and pool at Virgil's Grove, walkways will be restored, new paths installed to improve disabled access to the site and there will be additional planting to help return the woodland to its historic 1740s layout."

l JOIN THE DEBATE... Would you like to see work start on the long awaited revamp of Leasowes Park as soon as possible before more historic features are lost forever? Log onto www.halesowennews. co.uk and vote in this week's web ballot.