A Westfield dad is appealing for the old Southfield Technology College playing field to be opened to the area's children.

Darren Ellwood, 33 of Windsor Road, wants a safer place for children like his daughter Chloe, nine, and Mason, four, to play.

He said there was nowhere for youngsters to play other than the street and has seen too many near misses to let that continue.

The school was demolished this year after it merged with Stainburn School to become Workington Academy, but the playing field remains fenced off.

Darren said: "I watch every night and see cars having to slam the brakes on or swerve to avoid playing children.

"It's an accident waiting to happen while that field is just crying out to be used.

"They don't have to do anything fancy like build a playground or put some nets up, just let children on there.

"Let's just try and look after them before anything happens to them because there's not really anywhere else to play.

"Most places there are signs up saying no ball games so Westfield children don't have anything, they're stuck."

A council spokesman said the site would remain that way for public safety and security while it considers future options for the site.