MONEY seized from criminals is being used to build a playground in Winsford.

The Greenfields Playful Landscape project has been given £10,000 from the Office of Criminal Justice Reform which strips criminals of their ill-gotten gains.

The joint project between Weaver Vale Housing Trust and Groundwork Cheshire will see a nature-themed playground built in place of the current run-down play equipment.

Judith Burbidge, neighbourhood manager for Weaver Vale Housing Trust, said: “For the project to receive this sum of money is just fantastic. We want the project to be something really special for young people and parents living in Greenfields and this money will certainly help to make this dream a reality.”

The money came from the Community Cashback scheme which allows people to nominate community projects to benefit from grants of up to £95,000.

The projects were posted on the Local Criminal Justice Board website and shortlisted by a public vote.

The Office of Criminal Justice Reform made the final decision on which ones would be awarded funding, with the Greenfields Community Landscape project being one of 269 nationally, and just 11 in Cheshire.

Katherine Stanier, project manager for Groundwork Cheshire, said: “I’m delighted the project has been allocated this funding. This will be one of the most exciting play projects to be developed in Cheshire and one that I’m sure the local community will really enjoy and be proud of.”