A “FORGOTTEN” playground needs urgent improvements, residents claim.

Campaigners say Mile Oak Recreation Ground in Portslade has received a fraction of the funding received by similar sites in the city.

Council officials said they have invested equally in the playground but other sites may have benefitted from funding not available at Mile Oak.

Residents, who have handed out more than 4,000 leaflets to gather support, are asking for more equipment and regular maintenance.

A petition calling for improvements has almost 300 signatures of support.

Natalie Downes, chairwoman of Mile Oak Recreation Action Group, said: “We see investment in the parks and recs in central Hove and Brighton, but it feels like Mile Oak is ignored.

“Facilities for families in places like Patcham and St Anne’s Well Gardens are amazing and have received far more money.

“If the council think it’s ‘out-of-sight, out-of-mind’ for Mile Oak then we want them to know that’s not true.”

Peter Kyle, Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Hove, said: “I have every reason to believe that the council is spending up to three times more in similar sized play parks in other parts of town and residents here in Mile Oak have had enough.

“I have also written to Jason Kitcat, Green council leader, inviting him to the park and asking him to comment on the fact that the Mile Oak Rec is disproportionately underfunded.”

A Brighton and Hove City council spokeswoman said the Mile Oak play equipment was upgraded in 2010 as part of the Playbuilder project, receiving similar levels of funding to other play areas of around £50,000.

She said other areas were also able to spend section 106 money made available from local building projects.

She said: “Before being upgraded, the play area was very run down with equipment which was beyond economic repair which meant the basic costs were higher.

“Approximately 12 months after the main work was carried out further funds were found to install additional play equipment for younger children.

“The maintenance regime is the same as most other play areas in the city.

“There are no immediate plans for further improvement works.”

To sign the petition visit www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/brighton-and-hove-city-council-improve-the-equipment-and-safety-of-mile-oak-park.