A petition calling for a 'waterlogged' park playground to be repaired and improved has gathered over 700 signatures. 

The children's playground at Churchfields Recreation Ground, in South Woodford, was built over a decade ago using Big Lottery funds and support from Redbridge council, as part of an initiative ensuring each ward had a play area.

But parent Nicola Wyndham, 42, of Abbottford Garden in Woodford Green, launched a petition on November 6 expressing her anger at a lack of maintenance and investment at the site. 

It has so far gathered 708 signatures, predominantly from parents whose children attend Churchfields Infant and Junior School, situated opposite the park. 

She said: "It has been neglected over the years and its current state is an absolute disgrace. 

"The grassed area is perpetually waterlogged, hard surfaces are cracked and there are very deep holes around the apparatus meaning kids are falling or tripping over next to the equipment. 

"The roundabout is defunct, and after school is becomes incredibly crammed because it is simply too small for all the youngsters.

"I have two small children and this is my local park. I don't like taking the kids there; it is not a pleasant experience. The kids leave covered in mud."

Mrs Wyndham has been working alongside Dr Geoff Seeff, a Liberal Democrat activist living in Parkland Road, Woodford Green. 

He regularly takes his grandchildren to Churchfields Park. 

He said: "When the playground was built, money should have been put aside to cover repairs and routine maintenance. 

"Typically the various administrations have failed to do this and my fear is that nothing will be done until a child injures themselves falling over one of the boggy holes."

They are calling on the council to make the surface area weather proof, consider an expansion of the park, repair and maintain equipment, and implement a drainage system as the park is on an incline.

It was revealed this week by Redbridge council that it had terminated its green spaces maintenance contract with Ground Control Ltd over lack of maintenance and poor service, although the contractor claims it is owed over half a million pounds in unpaid invoices. 

Church End Liberal Democrat councillor Hugh Cleaver will present the petition at the full council meeting on Thursday.