Funding bids are being made to build playgrounds and leisure spaces designed by schoolchildren.

Shoreham Academy pupils have put forward ideas to improve Fishersgate Recreation Ground and The Green in Southwick.

Year 7 class K3 drew up designs for a complete overhaul of Fishersgate Recreation Ground and three students from Year 9 gave a presentation to businesspeople asking for funding for a new play park at The Green in Southwick.

The Fishersgate plans include play equipment for children, a skateboard-style scooter ramp for children and outdoor gym equipment for adults.

Adur District Council will oversee the applications for funding.

Grace Hockley, 12, said: “It feels like they actually liked the ideas and listened to what we had to say rather than just going by what would be the cheapest option.”

“I think it’s quite nice that some of the people who are going to use it are our age and we got to design it,” said Natasha Tredgold, 12.

Police Community Support Officer Sandra Heaton, the officer for the Eastbrook ward, approached the school and the council after children kept getting into trouble kicking footballs against garages.

“You’ve got residents and you’ve got kids. And both wanted something for the kids,” she said.

The Southwick Green project has already received £75,000 from Adur District Council and will provide a pencil maze, picnic area, mosaic stepping stones and a sea captain’s chair for storytelling.

The Year 9 students who gave the presentation, Owen Thomas, Grace Lee and Daniel Harris, are all members of the student school council.

“It’s not every day that you can change something that will affect not only yourself but other families where you live,” said Owen, 14.

The campaign for the play park began with mothers Fiona Dunn and Melanie Prior, who met on The Green and decided to set up the Southwick Green Community Team (SGCT). SGCT is seeking funding from shopkeepers and organisations.

Miss Dunn, 42, an actor, of Albert Road, said: “It’s about creating a healthy, exciting area that can be used by both parents and children, to enhance the beautiful village green at the heart of Southwick.”