Council plans to close 14 play areas

Playgrounds in Hertfordshire could be turfed over and turned into "green spaces" due to cutbacks.

North Hertfordshire District Council says its hands are tied as each play area costs on average £2,000 a year to maintain, and with safety inspections having to be carried out daily, it has become too expensive to run them all.

It currently looks after 47 play areas, so 33 would remain.