Young people in east Hailsham are to get a host of new leisure facilities paid for with Government money.

Plans to build a playground, "teenage village" and kick-around area are approaching fruition.

The area is one of the most deprived in the country according to Government figures.

It has received more than £5 million of Government money for community and regeneration projects in the last two years.

Part of this money has been devoted to giving children and young people somewhere to go in their spare time.

One of the main projects is a play area for the under-fives, which will be built on the Butt Field estate.

Hailsham Town Council was today expected to agree plans for the playground equipment to be installed.

The playground is to be funded by the Government's Sure Start health and education programme for the under- fives.

It is the result of months of consultation with East Hailsham residents, who have been asked for their opinion on the design of the playground.

It will include play equipment for pre-school children and special facilities for disabled youngsters.

If plans go-ahead, building work on the £30,000 project could begin this summer.

A second regeneration project aims to build a "teenage village" on the Town Farm estate's Maurice Thornton playing field.

Local youngsters have been consulted about the scheme and asked what kind of facilities they wanted. They helped design the layout of the area, which would include huts and a basketball hoop.

The scheme is due to be considered by the town council tomorrow.

Penny Edwards, of the Town Farm Residents' Association, said: "Everybody thinks it is a fantastic idea. It will be the teenagers' space and it will be up to them to look after it.

"We hope it will be up and running by the summer. Then the young people will have somewhere to go and sit and chat and not hang around on street corners being constantly moved on by police.

"It is all part of Single Regeneration Budget, which aims to make life better for people, which I am sure it will."

Plans are also under way for hard surfaced kick-around area to be built in the middle of the Town Farm Estate. It is hoped all three projects will be completed by the end of next year.