Thousands of pounds will be spent extending the St Mark’s Recreation Ground car park.

Central North Swindon Parish Council will spend more than £40,000 on extending the paved area, replacing the muddy site used when the car park is full.

The site is often busy during the summer due to the park's popular tennis courts. And it gets extended use in the winter, thanks to the on-site cafe.

The work is scheduled to start in January.

Coun John Ballman said: “In the better months when people were playing tennis, all the courts were used.

“The whole area was completely covered in cars virtually every day.

“In the summer, the tennis club run about 20 tournaments so this is a very well used park.”

The extension will have lined spaces and new lighting.

Coun Ballman added: “The price will be around £40,000 because, like with all contracts, there’s a little bit of give and take.

“But this needs to be done. This is a very well used park.

“At weekends it’s the destination of first choice for people who live in this area and people do come from wider areas to play tennis and to use the park.

“Come the summer months a variety of events take place here. We’ve had dog shows here in the past.”

The plans were decided when councillors agreed the work would be funded from the parish’s capital projects fund.

The parish has not set a completion date for the work.

Coun James Yeowell added: “It’s not just about the parish council, it’s about making this a better place for the community and bringing the park up to a higher standard.

“It’s about making people feel safer when they’re here, people don’t want to come here and feel threatened.

“If this isn’t a safe place then we have a problem.”