A FORMER dumping ground for stolen mopeds and bikes has been levelled to make way for a new children's play area.

The patch of grassland in Nightingale Avenue, Greater Leys, had sat unused for 13 years before a plan to extend the Dovecote Centre was approved.

Joyriders had dumped stolen vehicles and litter on the overgrown area - and on one occasion even a stolen moped, said Carol Richards, the centre's children and families services co-ordinator.

But after a three-year campaign Mrs Richards saw safety bark being laid on the area before the installation of a new mini-adventure playground for children aged between four and 12.

Mrs Richards said: "It is fabulous and will double the size of the original garden.

"The original area had a bench in it for old people to sit on but it was never used for that.

"It was just used as a dumping ground before. It was never used for anything fruitful."

Work began on rejuvenating the area in February after Oxford City Council agreed to lease the land to the Blackbird Leys Housing Consortium.

The consortium provided £20,000 towards the makeover, with another £3,000 coming from Oxford Community Fund, and Oxford Round Table stumped up £5,000 for the new play structures.

Up to 80 children a week will use the new facilities, which will include a cargo net, monkey bars, wobbly bridge and fireman's pole.

Mrs Richards said the play area was expected to open at the end of April - three years after the idea was first discussed with the city council.

She added: "The kids are going to have a lot more fun and a lot more space to run around in."

Members of Oxford Round Table have volunteered to help dig up 12 inches of the garden surface to provide space for the safety bark.

Jason Priest, vice chairman of Oxford Round Table, said: "The centre is great for the people that visit it - what they give to the community is very good."