Belfast City Council has announced that Loughside Playground in north Belfast has reopened after redevelopment works by the Council.

As part of this year's £580,000 Playground Improvement Programme, three sites are undergoing transformation, including New Lodge playground and North Link playground.

Since 2012, the programme has played a crucial role in improving the safety, quality and accessibility of outdoor play parks throughout Belfast. As a result, all council-owned sites now boast a ranking of 'good quality' or higher.

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The renovation project at Loughside, situated off Shore Road, includes the installation of additional inclusive amenities. These include an accessible trampoline, roundabout and multi-play unit, alongside upgraded safety surfacing, boundary fencing, site furniture and landscaping works.

Visiting the site, Councillor Micky Murray, Chair of the People and Communities Committee, said: "It’s great to see the revitalisation of spaces like Loughside, developing this valuable resource into more inclusive and welcoming space for children and families.

"Providing safe and high-quality play areas in local communities is important, and we're proud to deliver on that, with over £6 million invested into more than 50 of our sites during the last decade."

Improvement works at North Link playground, in the west of the city, are currently underway and are expected to be completed by the end of April. Work at New Lodge playground will get underway in May.