A popular Basildon country park's play area will be shut to the public for two days this week.

Wat Tyler's play area will be closed from today (July 18) to tomorrow (July 19) when maintenance works take place.

On why the play area is shut, a Basildon Council spokesman said: "We are replenishing the play bark surfacing, and installing two wheelchair accessible picnic benches."

The new play area opened at Wat Tyler Country Park last July after being closed for almost 5 months - ready to be enjoyed ahead of the summer holidays.

It is packed with a whole variety of fun and inclusive features, and is suitable for wheelchair users and children of all ages and abilities.

Now it will be even more accessible with its two new picnic benches.

After the re-opening last summer, Jeff Henry, councillor responsible for leisure, said: “This new play area really is something to get excited about, making one of our most popular play sites in the borough even better for our borough’s young people.

“I’m also proud of the new changing places toilet facility installed in the park, which will complement our new play area and make it a truly inclusive.”