A WORRIED mum fears her disabled son could be seriously hurt if his school's playground is not coated with rubber.

Denise Brown's nine-year-old son Christopher came home with cuts and bruises to his face after taking a tumble.

She is calling for Bolton Council to invest in a soft coat - like that used in children's play areas in many parts of Bolton - on the playground at Green Fold School, Farnworth.

Mum-of-two Denise, of Hardie Avenue, New Bury, said: "It's been happening for the past few years.

"He's been to casualty twice."

Denise, aged 29, said although Christopher wore a helmet, she was worried he would scar his face or have a serious injury.

She added: "I'm concerned he could have some permanent damage.

"Although the teachers pay very close attention, he is very prone to falling over.

"It needs to be safe for him to fall in the playground."

He has loosened his front teeth by tripping over and has had countless cuts and bruises to his face.

Head teacher Christine Chapman said: "It's an idea which was first mooted a couple of years ago.

"We have a number of children who are a little bit unsteady on their feet. There is the potential for a very serious injury - we have children with severe learning disabilities.

"Some children of eight or nine - and we have one of ten - have only just learned to walk."

She said the council had costed a proposal to soft surface part of the playground at between £6,000 and £10,000.

The council had put the issue on a priority list.

A spokesman said the council would bid for a £10m slice of a £1.1 billion pot of extra cash under the New Deal for Schools initiative by the Government.

He said if the council got the money, which would be over a three-year period, the proposal would be one of the things it would consider.

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