FAMILIES are being urged to vote for their favourite playground designs as part of a £1.3million revamp of the borough's recreation facilities.

New equipment, worth £300,000, will be installed at King George V playing fields and the Waterside play area, both on Canvey, and Woodside play area in Benfleet.

Children and parents have four different playground designs for each area to choose from.

For pictures of all the proposals visit www.castlepoint.gov.uk/playgrounds Peter Burch, Castle Point councillor responsible for recreation, said: "Families will be using these state-of-the-art playgrounds, so it is only right that families get a say in what we put there.

"The new playgrounds will be the latest part of our renewal strategy, which, in response to the demands of residents has placed playgrounds as a high priority for the council.

"Once we have residents' views we can start creating these three new playgrounds, giving us five new playgrounds this year."

Work is almost complete at the other two new playgrounds at South Benfleet Playing Fields, off Brook Road in Benfleet, and Leigh Beck Recreation Ground, off Park Lane, Canvey.

These playgrounds, costing £200,000, are being part-funded by a grant from Veolia Cleanaway Pitsea Marshes Trust.

Castle Point Council is using a £200,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund to pay for the latest three and £100,000 of its own money.

Comments about designs must be posted on the council's website by this Sunday.