HOUSING bosses are forcing residents to remove a children's play area they created because they claim it's a health and safety hazard.

Eastleigh Housing Association is demanding the swings and slide put up by one mum are dismantled because they fear they will be held responsible if anybody has an accident.

They say if action isn't taken then residents could face legal action.

Angry parents in the block of 12 flats in Falkland Road, Chandler's Ford, say the housing association is going overboard. They want the equipment, including patio furniture and a barbecue, to stay.

Resident Michelle Trott, who has a five-year-old son called Ryan, says she put up the play area in the communal grounds.

She said: "They are actually my swings, but all the kids use them.

"We had someone come round asking us to clear everything up or else they would take it away. But it's not doing any harm. I think they are being unreasonable. The kids have got to have somewhere to play."

Another tenant, Elizabeth Ford, who has a four-year-old daughter called Tilli-Mai, said: "It is supposed to be a communal garden for the use of everybody. If you had a housing association house you could have swings up in the back garden - but that is what this is, our back garden.

"Although the items are individually owned they are used by the community as a facility."

Mother-of-two, Donna Parsons, said the association had claimed it was a health and safety issue but added: "I said we would get signatures from everybody in the flats saying that they would take responsibility for any accidents that occurred.

"But they won't budge on the issue. I think they are just going overboard about the situation."

Eastleigh ward councillor, Gillian Connell, said ordering the clearance of the area was very heavy-handed.

"I can see both sides. Clearly health and safety is important and Eastleigh Housing Association might consider they could be held responsible for any accidents but it seems a very heavy-handed approach," she said.

Stephen Bennett, Eastleigh Housing Association local estate manager, said: "We are not trying to upset residents but we do have an obligation to provide safe communal areas for everyone.

"Bikes are left on the ground outside of the rear doors and equipment is not put away, which is a health and safety hazard.

"The land is being treated like a play park with a large number of children making use of the swings with very little supervision. The swings are on EHA land and we cannot be held responsible for any accidents that may occur."

He said the association was not insured for use of such equipment, that play areas came under strict regulatory guidelines and that the association could have claims made against it as a result of an accident on its land.

Residents, he said, had been contacted in September 2003, August 2004 and again last month about the matter but had failed to comply with requests to remove the items.

Mr Bennett added: "It is my intention to write to them again giving them seven days to comply. Failure to comply with EHA's request may result in legal action being taken."