PARENTS living on one of Okehampton's largest housing estates believe an accident which left a young boy in hospital could have been avoided if they had a safe play area for their children.

Twelve-year-old Ricky Wooldridge from Giblands suffered concussion and bruising after he was knocked down by a car as he ran into the road to fetch a ball.

A campaign is being launched by parents to get a designated children's play area at the Giblands estate in line with other estates in the town.

Ricky's mother, Karen Hodgson, is calling for a large grassed area used by the children at the entrance to Giblands estate to be fenced off.

The West Devon Borough Council-owned land, however, is earmarked for additional housing development and no provision has been made in the new draft local plan for a dedicated play area at Giblands

Mrs Hodgson, whose son spent the night in hospital following the accident, said she did not want anyone else to go through what her family did.

She said: 'The children were playing on the grassed area when the ball ran out into the road and Ricky went to fetch it.

'Luckily the driver was going slow but it could have been a lot worse. Next time a child may not be so lucky.

'Had there been a fenced-off area in which they could play we believe this nasty accident would have been avoided.'

Mrs Hodgson, who has written to MP John Burnett, county councillor Coleen Herriman and the borough council, said other housing estates such as Jubilee Close, Moyses Meadow, Macey's Terrace and Oak Road all had play areas for children.

She added it was the natural thing for children to run out after their ball no matter how many times they were told not to go on the road.

'I do not blame the driver — many times kids have run out in front of me — it's just I know what to expect now.'

Her neighbour and sister-in-law Debbie Hodgson, who has two children, said the road next to the grass area was getting very busy because so many more houses had been built above the Giblands estate.

She said: 'Lots of youngsters go up and down and drive very fast — they do not take into consideration that young children are playing.

'If the area was fenced off it would not only stop children going into the road but also prevent people from taking their dogs there.'

She said the council had been talking about housing development on the grassed area since she moved into the estate 14 years ago but it had never happened.

When the matter of a play area was considered last year by West Devon Council it was accepted there was a need but members only came forward with a temporary solution to increase the number of grass-cuts on the existing area so the children could use it.

A spokesperson for the council said this week the matter was being referred back to the strategic development committee following correspondence between chief executive David Incoll and Mrs Hodgson.

County councillorColeen Herriman said there was definitely a need for a play area at Giblands but it was a shame it was not done when the estate was first built.

'I have approached the borough council asking if the large green area in its ownership could be made into a designated play area,' she said.

'The council said this was not possible but agreed to cut the grass more regularly.

'Unfortunately, although the grass is cut short it is now used as a dog latrine and is full of dog mess and therefore unsuitable and dangerous as a play area.'

Cllr Herriman said since the accident she had written to the borough council asking it to designate the green area a 'dog-free zone' and check the entrance onto the road to see if further work was needed to make it safe and child-proof.