The surface of a playground has collapsed causing more than £3,000 of damage.

Last week Loughton Town Councillors rubber stamped £3,457 for urgent repairs to the safety surfacing under and around the basket at Newman's Lane Playground.

According to town clerk Enid Walsh the floor fell through.

She said: "An area of the safety surfacing in this playground has actually collapsed and the remainder is very spongy suggesting the soil underneath has been washed away.

"There may also have been tree root damage underground.

"The cause of this is to be investigated and then the whole area under the basket swing reinstated and resurfaced."