A CHILDREN'S charity in Bradford that owns the "largest swing in the north of England" is appealing for help to fix it after part of it started to rot away.

The wooden A-frame play apparatus - which is described as being as high as a telegraph pole - is at The Big Swing Adventure Playground in Eccleshill.

Now the hunt is on for tradespeople or building companies who might be prepared to donate their time, materials or equipment. Alternatively, people who can help with fundraising activities are urged to come forward.

Senior playworker Jenny Turner said the equipment's top beam had become rotten - making the swing unsafe for children to use.

"The top post is rotten now," she said. "The swing has been in the ground for ten years and all the rain has meant the top beam has become rotten.

"It is such a big job to fix it - it is in need of major repair - that it would need a cherry picker or something like that."

The charity has been providing adventure play opportunities to children and their families in Bradford for the last ten years.

Jenny said of the swing: "It is the largest swing in the north of England and has been used by thousands of children and young people over the years.

"As a charity, we are struggling to find the funds to fix it.

"We are hoping we may be able to find some local tradespeople or building companies who will offer donations of time, money, equipment or materials in order to help us get our swing back up and running so that the children of Bradford can once again enjoy this fantastic piece of equipment. Or anyone who can help with some fundraising."

She added: "We are quite a well established charity now and there are quite a few people that use us. Quite a lot of local kids and families come here and the swing is like the focal point of the playground.

"With it not being in use, it is no good to anyone and kids are asking for it every day. There are lots of upset kids - they are all moaning about it!"

Jenny, 32, said the charity welcomes 2,000 individual children per year.