PRESSURE was mounting tonight for Oxford City Council to demand part of a £1m windfall to spruce up scores of its rundown play areas.

Oxford is one of five district councils in the county vying for a slice of cash from the Government.

The grant is intended to fund the refurbishment and creation of play areas to encourage children to play.

Today, mums and dads across the city said the cash should be used to revamp 14 of the most needy play areas in Risinghurst, Wood Farm, Headington, Cowley, Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys, all of which have fallen into a state of disrepair.

However, the city council needs to persuade Oxfordshire Play Partnership - which will allocate the funds - that it deserves the money more than other areas.

Caroline Hewer, a mother-of-four who is campaigning for imp- rovements to the Sermon Close playground in Risinghurst, said: "Most of the money should go on the 14 playgrounds.

"The council has not said they are definitely closing them, but they are the ones the council has let run down to nothing."

Fourteen playgrounds were earmarked for closure in a draft council report published in May last year, although the council later asked communities to try and raise funds themselves. The council claimed work on the 14 playgrounds would cost £452,000.

Bringing all 90-odd municipal play areas in the city up to scratch would cost more than £3m.

Next month the partnership - made up of representatives from district councils and voluntary sector organisations - will decide how best to use the cash, which could fund the creation or refurbishment of play areas.

Claire Patrick, a mum-of-four from Pegasus Road, Blackbird Leys, said: "This money could make a load of difference to a lot of kids. Parents from Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys only take their kids to one playground in Pegasus Road because the others on the estate are in such bad condition."

Yvonne Lowe, chairman of Risinghurst and Sandhills Parish Council, said: "In Sermon Close, things have been removed that have got old and broken - and not been replaced.

"In the end, all we have been left with is two swings and a slide."

Bob Price, leader of the city council's Labour group, said his party would campaign to get half of the £1m grant for the city.

Deputy council leader David Rundle said: "We would hope to lever in enough money from this grant to rejuvenate several play areas in the city."

A county council spokesman said the partnership would consider parents' opinions when making a decision.