Parents campaigning for play equipment for toddlers at The Green play park, Acorn Road, North Walsham. Left to right, Emily Wylie 10, plays on the zip wire while her mum, Rebecca and son Benjamin 1, watch with Sophia Jackman and her daughter Grace 2. PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY

A young north Norfolk mum’s determined bid for play equipment suited to toddlers looks set to succeed.

Sophia Jackman, 30, stood up at North Walsham Town Council’s meeting and asked for members’ backing to provide equipment at The Green, on the town’s Acorn Road - and the council unanimously voted to help.

Mrs Jackman, from Mundesley Road, North Walsham, takes her two-year-old daughter Grace to The Green as it is their nearest play area.

But the equipment installed there is designed for eight-to-13-year-olds.

“She’s too little to use the climbing frame, the slide’s too high and the zip wire isn’t suitable,” said Mrs Jackman, 30, adding that a couple of basket swings on the site were not fitted with straps.

“It’s a great area for just running around but there is nothing for Grace to safely play on. It’s quite a large housing estate and there must be a lot of families there with young children.”

Mrs Jackman set up a Facebook page inviting suggestions and it attracted about 30 members. She also distributed a questionnaire among her friends and contacted her town and district councillor, Eric Seward, who is supporting the bid.

The town council will now contact North Norfolk District Council (NNDC), which owns the land. It will also investigate making a bid to NNDC’s Big Society Fund for a grant towards the estimated £8,000 cost of providing a platform and slide, and a double toddlers’ swing. Councillors would also like to see the area fenced to keep dogs out.

Speaking after the meeting Mrs Jackman said she was very pleased at the council’s response.