A TOWN’S public park areas are set to be ‘closed’ at night in a bid to prevent anti-social behaviour.

Ross town councillors have approved up to £500 for signs saying ‘closed at dusk’ at five open spaces after police requested the notices

PC Richard Barradale-Smith said the signs were needed so that officers could order people to move on from the sites.

The open spaces targeted for the signs are the Rope Walk, which includes the children’s play area, the skate park, Caroline Symonds Gardens, Crossfields and Deanhill Park.

Signs telling dog owners to keep their pets on leads are also being installed after a complaint that an elderly resident was intimidated by four loose doberman-like dogs and their owner at the Rope Walk.

The Rope Walk playground redevelopment was boosted earlier this month by Herefordshire Council agreeing to provide £7,000 towards the £150,000 overall cost.

Work is expected to take place in three phases costing £50,000 each, with the first phase set to replace the fenced toddler area with a new safety surface and new play equipment for toddlers and small children.

Residents Lindsey Mclean, Richard Mayo, Debbie Brooks and Anna Ricketts have launched an online donation page to help fund the work at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Ropewalkplaygroundproject