A new castle could be built at an historic site by the end of the year under plans for a more than £100,000 investment in a Thetford play area.Thetford Town Council has submitted proposals to Breckland Council to remove the ageing play equipment at Castle Park and replace it with state-of-the-art facilities.

A new castle could be built at an historic site by the end of the year under plans for a more than £100,000 investment in a Thetford play area.

Thetford Town Council has submitted proposals to Breckland Council to remove the ageing play equipment at Castle Park and replace it with state-of-the-art facilities.

The plans follow grants totalling £114,200 for the project to upgrade the play area near the historic Castle Mound in Thetford.

The scheme, which has been drawn up by playground company Kompan, includes proposals for a toddler area with a 4m high castle, Forkbeard's boat and Charles Burrell steam engine-themed play structures.

Other proposed facilities, which were selected by local schoolchildren, include multi see saws, spinning bowls, a large 4.25m climbing structure for 6 to 15-year-olds, skate rail and a 5m high giant tripod swing.

Susan Glossop, Thetford town manager, said the Castle Park works had been in the pipeline for the last 18 months and would take six weeks to complete, if granted by Breckland councillors.

Scheduled monument consent from Historic Scotland would be needed and an archaeological dig will have to be carried out before the scheme can start.

Funding has come from the Big Lottery Fund, Breckland Council, Thetford Town Council, Wren, the Round Table and Thetford Lionesses.