A PARKS officer from Oxford has won a scholarship to travel across Europe, learning how to design green spaces for young people.

Sam Parry, who works for the city council, was one of 50 people who applied for the trip, which coincides with a three-year programme of improvement for Oxford's open spaces.

The five-week visit will see Mr Parry study parks in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Holland and France.

Mr Parry, 27, said: "I will be looking specifically at spaces for young people.

"We have got a few run-down play areas in Oxford, but there is money to improve them, so I will be looking at examples across Europe.

"They do things differently to the UK, with a lot more natural materials like sand and wood and rocks, and a lot of hands-on play for kids to move things around."

Mr Parry, who has worked for Oxford City Council for five years, added: "Hopefully I will bring back ideas to use in Oxford.

"Obviously there are different laws in the countries I am visiting, which may make things difficult, but ideally I would like to change the way we do play areas here.

"I am due to leave in mid May, but the exact dates have not been finalised yet. I am very much looking forward to it - I cannot wait."

The scholarship is organised by CABE Space, part of the Government advisory panel on architecture, urban design and public space.

Sarah Gaventa, director of CABE Space, said: "Sam's enthusiasm and commitment to delivering well-designed play areas in and around Oxford make him the perfect candidate and I am delighted to have been able to award him this scholarship.

"I am confident that Oxford will benefit enormously from his experience and that he will work hard to inspire others."