RESIDENTS in Knowsley braved the rain to march against proposals to sell off 17 of the borough's parks - including Brown's Field in Prescot.

On Sunday morning, a family march saw residents set off from from three of the borough's under-threat parks: Brown's Field as well as Alt Park and Court Hey Park in Huyton and walk to Knowsley Council's offices in Huyton.

Organisers say the event was a great success, with approximately around 200 turning out.

Residents held placards as they protested against the controversial plans which were agreed by Knowsley Council in January.

Among the green spaces to be surrendered in the move is King George V Playing Fields in Prescot, known locally as 'Brown's Field', with plans causing much anger among residents.

After the march, one of the organisers, Mandy Roberts, said: "We had a great turnout out and people were in good spirits.

"Part of the aim was to bring people together from the different parks and areas so they could see they weren’t fighting this on their own and I think we can happily say that was achieved.

"It culminated in everybody signing petitions and letters of complaints regarding the sale of the 17 parks so I think we can say a good morning was had by all."

Knowsley Council says a charitable trust will be established to manage green spaces in the borough from April 2019, to be funded by the sale of 10 per cent of the borough’s green spaces over the next 15 years.

This, the council says, will create a £40 million endowment, the interest from which would be used to manage and maintain the remaining 90 per cent permanently.

Residents say they are to hand in petitions and letters of complaint to Knowsley Council's Huyton base on Tuesday afternoon.