WHEN people identify places that seem unfriendly, neglected or dangerous they tend to give them a wide berth, but enterprising schoolchildren from Shirley found somewhere fitting that description and set about making things better.

Six youngsters from Spring Park Primary and Benson Primary have transformed a shabby spot in Shirley Church Recreation Ground.

SPRUCING THE PLACE UP: Leanne Brown, Joseph Todd and Megan Pantry, from Spring Park Primary, with PCSO Nick Webster

Together with their local police safer neighbourhood team (SNT) and the community payback scheme, which involves convicted criminals working off sentences, they planted flowers, painted fencing and fixed tennis court nets.

Sergeant Simon Packham, of Shirley SNT, said the pilot scheme, funded jointly by Croydon Council and the Met Police, will be "the first of many".

He said: "When we first asked them to come up with ideas, some of them were a bit beyond our budget, like building a new playground area, but then we all came to a good compromise."

The project was launched in January, when the youngsters from each school drew up their proposals for making the area a better place.

These ideas were presented to the council, who agreed to sprucing up the recreation ground.

Spring Park pupil Megan Pantry, 10, said: "We went down to the recreation ground once a week for about two months and planted flowers and made the area prettier.

"I hope many more people go there now."

Fellow pupil Leanne Brown, 10, added: "What we've achieved really makes me proud.

"It was hard work but definitely worth it."