THE opening of the new play area in a popular York park has been delayed due to flooding.

The Young Friends of Rowntree Park were due to hold a picnic in the park last Sunday to celebrate the opening of the children's play area, but this had to be cancelled as the park became the victim of the swollen River Ouse.

Disappointed children are currently fenced off from the new play area and council chiefs are unsure as to when the re-scheduled opening will occur.

Michelle Bainbridge, of City of York Council, said: "We will organise a new date for the opening of the play area once we assess the damage. I have no idea how much the clean-up operation will cost."

The new play area is part of the £1.6 million lottery-funded facelift of Rowntree Park. Construction was set to end in October, with tree planting occurring in November and December.

Meanwhile, a York family say they were "disgusted" to find more than 100 dead fish floating in the park's pond on Sunday. Brent Sledmore, who had taken his wife and two young children to the park, said: "I couldn't believe it. The pond absolutely stank and had loads of dead fish floating in it."

Mrs Bainbridge said: "There were fish in the park that were displaced from the lake and river due to flooding. I am assured that was cleaned up yesterday."

Updated: 11:33 Tuesday, August 13, 2002