THERE is "zero budget" to replace railings removed from a children's play area, a town council meeting was told.

Town councillor Caroline Utting told Ross Town Council on Monday night that a parent had asked her why the railings had been removed from the area at Ashfield Park in the town.

She said the parent had to stop using it as her child wasn't old enough to use it without railings.

Town and county councillor Richard Mayo said the railings were removed because they were dangerous - deterioration had resulted in six inch nails being exposed. He said there was "zero budget" for play areas and the decision was taken to remove them. He said: "It is not next to a main road or anything like that. It doesn't fit the criteria for replacing fencing at the moment."

Coun Mayo said the railings were actually removed 18 months ago.