A NEW £135,000 children’s play area has opened on Clacton seafront.

The park includes two specially-commissioned pieces of play equipment - a helter-skelter and a boat.

The play area is on the greensward on Marine Parade West, opposite Clacton Bowls Club.

Tendring Council environment boss Nick Turner said the equipment made a striking feature on the seafront.

“The helter-skelter is very similar to the one which was on Clacton Pier before it blew down and the boat is based on the Nemo II which used to operate off Clacton beach until the 1960s,” he said Picnic benches, litter bins and fencing will also be added to the site over the coming weeks.