TWO York mums are about to transform a disused horse riding arena into the city's biggest adventure play site and family entertainment centre.

Janice Dunphy and Sue Jones both of Bishopthorpe, have raised £200,000 to transform the 11,000 sq ft partly-dismantled riding arena at Cliftongate Business Park, Clifton Moor, into the Creepy Crawlies Adventure Playsite.

The fun complex for children up to the age of 12, complete with 15ft high four-lane slides, angled rope bridges, cargo nets, aerial runways, spooky caves, tunnels, plus three party rooms, padded soft play areas and ball pool for toddlers, five-a-side basketball area, mini-disco and spacious caf, should be ready by October.

York Riding School, of which the arena was part, will remain open as usual. Initially, Janice and Sue will employ seven people on the leased site plus the help of family and friends, but ultimately they envisage taking on 15 people, mostly part-time. Parents will be expected to supervise their children. A price has not yet been calculated, but it is thought entrance will cost about £4. Already Cadburys has sponsored the venture to the tune of £5,000 and the chocolate firm's designers are helping to create four feet tall "creepy crawlies" to add a happy "eek!" to the theme.

About half the money was raised through the Bank of Scotland under the Government's Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme, the balance put up by the two women, who were so confident in the venture's success that they were willing to re-mortgage their homes. Janice, a mother of two, is a former partner in an out-of-school club for four to 13-year-olds known as Bish Street Kids where she met Sue.

She said: "We know the demand is huge not just from our own children - I have two, Sue has three - but also from the excitement shown by other parents.

"We have also thoroughly researched similar facilities elsewhere - in Newcastle, Darlington, Wrexham, Guildford in Surrey and Farnborough - in order to find the best equipment, designs and suppliers. We honestly believe that we will have one of the best play sites in Britain.

"Parents and carers will be able to relax and socialise, comfortable in the knowledge that safety is our priority. Children will be checked in and out and the magnetic safety gates will be manned all times to prevent escapees! Getting there is easy and there will be parking for 70 cars."

The two women, whose children are in the same class at Bishopthorpe School, are determined also to cater for children with special needs and have been in discussion with Snappy (Special Needs and Play Provision for York).

"We hope, to some degree, to create a sensory environment," said Janice.

Updated: 11:55 Monday, August 16, 2004