A MUCH-LOVED playground on Oxford's largest estate could be lost forever unless volunteers step in to save it.

Trustees of Blackbird Leys Adventure Playground, also known as BLAP, have decided to close the 35-year-old facility temporarily because of a cash crisis and a shortfall of volunteers to act as fellow trustees.

Hundreds of parents send their children to play at the fenced-off Cuddesdon Way playground scheme, which hosts an after-school club and school holiday events.

Last night trustees Penny Wood, Pat Stannard, and Rennie Elliott, said they were hopeful the facility would “rise like a phoenix from the ashes”, but insisted they needed volunteers and cash to turn it around.

Mrs Wood said: “There have only been three trustees operating for some time. It has proved extremely difficult because when you are running a playground like BLAP you need a considerable amount of funding and you need a lot of people to help you with the fundraising.

“For just three of us it’s a big burden.”

The trustees plan to meet Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council representatives to work out a funding strategy later this month.

The decision to shut the facility was taken just before Christmas. It was the first time the playground had closed for financial reasons.

It had previously closed in May 2005, when a project leader resigned, but re-opened fully in January 2006 when a replacement was appointed.

Mrs Wood said having six new trustees would be “wonderful”. She said: “If we don’t get anyone, we might have to wind it down, but that’s the very worst case scenario.

“I feel despair about having to close it, but I’m 99 per cent sure that it will rise like a phoenix from the ashes.

“We get about 80 children per day in the holidays, which does suggest that there is a need, and children like to have somewhere to go.”

Mr Stannard said more council funding was needed. he said: “The recession is affecting the charitable trusts that give money.”

Sisters Charmayne and Vikki Probets said the play scheme would be missed if it closed for good.

Vikki, 24, from Deer Walk, Greater Leys, is mother to Mariah, seven, and Jack, four. She said: “My daughter enjoys it very much, and my son was due to start going in March.

“It is very handy in the school holidays. I would enjoy helping out there if I had the time.”

Charmayne, of Shepherds Hill, Greater Leys, takes her seven-year-old daughter Jordon to the after-school club.

The 26-year-old said: “It would definitely be missed.”

The area’s representative on Oxfordshire County Council, Richard Stevens, is trying to galvanise support in a bid to save the facility.

He said: “There are grants out there but it takes time to translate the grant process into a source of funds.

“Play is very important for children and their education and BLAP is perfect for that.”

An Oxford City Council spokesman said the authority was working with BLAP to see if there was a way forward.

l If you want to help run BLAP and can commit to at least 10 hours a month, call Penny Wood on 01869 277310.