RESIDENTS have launched a campaign to save a play park from a proposed housing development.

This week parents, grandparents and children gathered at the park on the Sunrising estate in Looe, waving  banners opposing the plan for 10 homes.

The site, off The Glebelands, is the subject of a pre-application for affordable homes, including houses, bungalows and apartments.

One of the residents, Lianne Oakley, who has a six-month-old baby, said she had lived in the area all her life and grew up playing in the park.

'It's a shame there is hardly anything of the park left,' she said.

'We don't want housing built there as it would only leave a small play space that won't be big enough for all the children in this area.

'There is a block of flats nearby with no gardens and loads of children with nowhere to play.'

Mother-of-five and grandmother-of-two Sophie Charity said she would like to see part of the site, which has suffered from neglect, made into a community garden with new play equipment next to it.

A Facebook page, called Save Sunrising Park, has been launched and there are already many comments from residents, with almost 130 people pledging their support for the campaign. A local teenager has written that a skate park should be built there. 'It would be a good place and we wouldn't be in the streets annoying the visitors,' he said.

Looe resident Sabrina Giddy wrote: 'We want a play area, skate park, different equipment for all ages and a seating area for parents to watch their children playing safely.'

Cornwall councillor for East Looe, Armand Toms, said West Looe had received a grant of £161,000 for its play park, but there was no council money to replace the park at Sunrising.

'Cornwall Council wants to build houses there, but over half the area will be left for a play park,' he said.

'At the moment, it seems the only way we will get a park.'