Wokingham Town Council is planning seven new pieces of ‘adventure trail’ equipment, costing £4,500, at King George V Playing Field, off Goodchild Road.

However, nearby residents are concerned the expanded facilities will attract more troublemakers to the play area and this will lead to an increase in antisocial behaviour.

They say litter bins have been thrown into gardens and they have been subjected to abuse from older children.

Sally Bristow, 64, lives off Easthampstead Road, and said: “We’ve had a problem of a number of teenagers, who gather there and we’ve had problems with them setting off fireworks and such.

The mother of three added: “The new equipment is a good idea, but it’s a shame there isn’t a warden to check on it.

“If someone regularly patrols, there wouldn’t be the same problems, but I’m not sure if it’s affordable.

“One thing that makes sense is to make it more secure. It would be useful to install a lockable gate.” Cllr Mark Ashwell, chairman of the amenities committee on Wokingham Town Council, said the concerns raised by the residents would be discussed at a meeting on Tuesday, February 25.

He said: “We’re taking residents’ observations along to the meeting; we’re considering it then in an open forum.

“We want to work with our residents but also we don’t need to be spending these same residents’ tax money on something that’s not working for the majority.” He said the bins would be replaced so they could not be thrown about.

Following planning approval from Wokingham Borough Council last month, the new play equipment is due to be installed in two weeks.

The money for the equipment comes from developer contributions.