THE Rotary Club shelter in Simmons Park is to get an upgrade in the near future, Okehampton Town Council has decided.

The current wooden shelter stands in the park by the East Okement river outside Chalet Treloar. It was erected by the Rotary Club in 1983 following the destruction of the original shelter by a freak storm on December 13 1981. Time has taken its toll on the shelter, with a hole in the woodwork and the roof's tiling showing its age.

The council has decided that the shelter will either be replaced by a new build, or the current shelter will be renovated and improved to share the character of Chalet Treloar.

The idea of a lean-on fence by the shelter so people can rest against it and look out over the river and park was also suggested.

The council has also decided to invite Okehampton Primary School pupils and Okehampton College students to help design a potential replacement or plan a possible update on the current structure.

The idea came in the wake of pupils at Okehampton Primary recently designing a shelter of their own for a school project.

Cllr Kevin Ball said: 'This would be a brilliant opportunity for either one or both of the schools to be represented in the park, and it could be a lasting testament to those who designed it.'