THE Government is threatening to pull the plug on the new playground that children and parents have worked hard for.

Sarah Venables and fellow parents, with support from Weald Parish Council, were promised £51,000 of Government cash for a new play area suitable for older children.

However, last month education secretary Michael Gove ordered a review into all of Labour's Playbuilder Projects where groundwork had not begun.

Mrs Venables, of Paiges Farm Close, said: "Suddenly, we're completely in limbo. We were promised £51,000 then we had to fill in a form from the Department of Education outlining how far the project was along.

"Kent County Council are stuck in the middle of this. They want to give us the money but we're all waiting to see if we survive the cut," she added.

"I completely understand the country needs to save money, but I've told the children this is going to happen. I haven't the heart to tell them it's not."

The project began last year after Weald Parish Council pledged £16,000 to revamp the existing under-sevens' play area at the memorial hall. That project is still going ahead.

Mrs Venables said: "My two children are growing out of that so I wanted to build something for eight to 13 year-olds too. We're quite cut off from the town here.

"I applied to the Labour government's Playbuild Fund and now that's been reviewed by the new coalition."

Rosie Wood, parish council chairman, said she was "deeply disappointed and sad" at the turn of events.

She said: "For the first time in years, there has been a real team spirit within the village created by the hard work of a group of young mums from Weald Village School.

"Under the guidance of Sarah Venables, they have worked tirelessly for months to establish a successful scheme acceptable to the whole village."

Work was due to start on August 16. Contractor Monster Play has agreed to wait for the Government's decision.

The area will include mounds and tunnels, a climbing net, other open spaces and disabled access.

Children will be encouraged to use the varied terrain to create their own games rather than be "dictated to" by swings and slides.

Mrs Wood added: "We feel very let down by this Governmental decision and would welcome their support in reinstating their original funding."

But Mrs Venables noted: "We've started looking at other ways to get the money, just in case, like the Big Lottery Fund. I'm determined to get the money somehow, if we need to."