CONCERNED parents are campaigning for a new children's play area to be built on their estate after finding drug-taking paraphernalia in their nearest park.

Worried Julie and Kevin Reynolds, respectively chairwoman and secretary of the Oakfield Residents Association, were horrified when Mr Reynolds discovered smoking equipment, wraps of tin foil and a half-bottle of wine in the Oakfield park.

And they are calling for a fully equipped park to be created behind the community hall in Hogarth Close.

Mrs Reynolds, 44, of Hogarth Close, said: "It is the school holidays and the children have got nowhere to go. The nearest parks are across main roads and used by all sorts of people.

"If they want to get to the boating-lake park in Llantarnam, they have to go across the railway line - and they don't always use the bridge."

Her 43-year-old husband added: "Behind the community hall there used to be a park. We remember taking our son there when he was two or three. He's 17 now.

"Out of 95 parks in Torfaen only 74 are serviceable and the council are having to get rid of the other 21. We may not get a new one in Llantarnam for five years because there are two in private housing estates."

Scores of families from the estate have joined them to raise as much as they can towards the £34,000 needed to erect five-a-side football goals, basketball baskets and a children's play park, and the couple are auctioning off sports memorabilia to boost the fund.

They are selling off autographed Newcastle United prints, a signed photograph of Manchester United captain Roy Keane and tickets for Warwickshire and Lancashire cricket matches to kick-start their Oakfield Kids' Playpark Appeal.

A later auction will also feature signed photos of celebrities and other sports stars. Stagecoach have donated £200 towards the cost of the park, and Western Corrugated have offered to make the goals.

Every Tuesday they hold car- boot sales, once a month there are under-12s' discos, on Wednesday afternoons they have tea dances and on August 25 they are holding a fun day on the proposed site, all of which will raise money for the park.

They hope to have at least £2,000 by February next year, when they will apply for grants from the council and Sportlot to meet the rest of the cost.

Mr Reynolds stated: "If they moved a park here and enhanced it with bigger facilities for older kids, it would be the perfect place."

A spokesman for Torfaen council said: "The council's Play Area Strategy encourages the involvement of local groups and other organisations. We welcome the fact that people want to see improved play facilities in Torfaen and are happy to discuss any proposals."