A popular play project for children in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, is in danger of closing after 32 years because of a cash crisis.

BLAP, the Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground - one of the oldest community facilities in the Leys - could close if it does not secure extra funding soon.

Those running the Cuddesdon Way playground said they had only raised a third of the cash they needed to keep the facility running this year.

An unsuccessful National Lottery funding bid, diminishing city council grants and increasing staff costs have all piled the pressure on Alston Quammie's charity-run organisation.

Mr Quammie said the playground would need to cut services within a year if new sources of funding were not found - and said "a worst-case scenario" could see closure within 15 months.

He said: "We are quite close to the edge - I would say it is quite desperate.

"It would be a great loss. On Fridays we have swimming, which is getting to be a problem because we need to maintain staff and children ratios."

The playground has started to search for volunteers, as it cannot afford to employ more than Mr Quammie and two part-time members of staff.

Play structures damaged by vandals have been placed out of bounds because BLAP cannot afford to mend the equipment.

In school holidays BLAP takes up to 80 children per day, which Mr Quammie said had helped to cut crime on the estate because less children were hanging around on the streets.

During term time, 40 children aged between five and 16 use a £1 after-school club each day, where they get to play on climbing frames and use arts and crafts materials.

This year BLAP has raised about £23,000 towards its £60,000 running costs - with no guarantee of securing the remaining amount.

In December, BLAP lost out on securing £79,000 from the National Lottery's People's Millions after a public vote decided a rejuvenation project for Carterton town centre was more deserving of cash.

Jasmine Baker, eight, who goes to BLAP every afternoon, said: "It is really cool because you can make toast and draw and do stuff like that.

"Everyone was sad and crying when we didn't win the vote."

Sally Constable, from Whitethorn Way, whose granddaughter uses BLAP, said: "It needs the funding. This is very important to Blackbird Leys because it keeps the children off the street."

BLAP chairman Rennie Elliott said: "Thousands of kids have walked through the door and have happy memories of BLAP. It's organised chaos."

To donate to BLAP, call 01865 747704.