Two Sheffield play areas have been awarded funding of more than £200,000 which will be spent on improving facilities for disabled children.

Improvements will be carried out at both Mather Road recreation ground and Handsworth Road recreation ground, after plans were approved by Sheffield City Council.

 The plans aim to improve play for all children by adding equipment such as a ‘communication board’ for non-verbal children as well as an inclusive boat swing.

Aisha Taylor, 53, who has a non verbal son and lives on Abbeydale Road, said: “These refurbishments would be very useful for my son to be able to access opportunities.”

“If the equipment doesn’t have this facility [the refurbishments] then these children/adults wouldn’t be able to use them.”

On its website Sheffield City Council is asking for people to give their thoughts on the plans.

In a statement on the website the council said: ”While respecting the heritage of this lovely park, we want to encourage people of all ages and abilities to be active, especially young people.”

The funding for this project was originally agreed in 2016 and has recently been revisited and approved again.

The plans also include improvements to the safety surfacing across the park.

Yo Tozer-Loft,54, a Sheffield parent of the Meersbrook area, said: ”How great that all children will be playing together in the same space and learning about each other and making friends.

“How brilliant that we are finally working towards a world for everyone. Playgrounds are a lifeline for parents and children alike- children need to play in the fresh air, and parents need to leave the house, meet people and talk.”

Sheffield City Council said that Mather Road recreation ground’s current sports facilities ‘need investment to make them better and more appealing to more people’.

Handsworth recreation ground hosts a full sized football pitch as well as a playpark, this funding aims to improve these facilities as well as toddler play and inclusive play equipment for children of all abilities.