New sports facilities in Ilford could be open by the end of autumn after another injection of funding.

Plans for the Vicarage Lane Play Park, on disused allotments between Vicarage Lane and Benton Road, have been underway for five years.

There will be a brand new multi-use games area, outdoor gym, play space and car park as well as plants, trees and wildlife-friendly landscaping.

But the project, with an estimated cost of nearly £250,000, has fallen short of cash and needs more funds to be completed.

At Tuesday’s area committee seven at Aldborough E-ACT Free School, in Aldborough Road South, Seven Kings, group secretary Roger Backhouse requested £9,500 from the committee.

Despite having previously awarded the project £8,645, councillors unanimously granted the request.

Mr Backhouse said: “I think this scheme offers something of lasting benefit for the children and young people of Redbridge.”

Cllr Elaine Norman said the new park was in an area of Redbridge “lacking” in sport facilities and green space.

She added: “It will serve an area that was a crime hotspot.”

Cllr Ashok Kumar praised the organisers for their efforts to gather funding.

He said: “It’s good for the community getting together, for the children and the next generation.”