RESIDENTS in Knowsley who are campaigning against plans to sell off 10 per cent of the area's parks, including Brown's Field in Prescot.

On Sunday, April 22 protestors turned out for a family march saw residents set off from from three of the borough's under-threat parks: King George V Playing Fields (Brown's Field) as well as Alt Park and Court Hey Park in Huyton and walk to Knowsley Council's offices in Huyton.

Organisers hailed the march 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.

The local authority 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.

Following the march, campaigners handed petitions in at the council.

Campaigners say this includes 1,380 asking for Brown's Field to be saved, 1,080 asking for all 17 of the under-threat parks in the borough to be saved and 102 formal complaint letters.

Speaking about the plans, campaigner Mandy Roberts said: "Feelings are running high over this. Once our parks are gone they are gone forever."