Occupy activists dig in at children's park in Battersea

Occupy London activists set up camp in the Battersea Park adventure playground earlier this week in a bid to stop bulldozers moving in.

Wandsworth residents learned of the council's plans to close three fully staffed adventure playgrounds, including the occupied Battersea Park facility, last January.

The council claims it is spending £370,000 to "modernise" the facilities but admits that the new facilities will no longer be staffed by playleaders.

Local parents say that the current adventure playgrounds are hugely popular and that playleaders are an important part of the experience.

Occupy activists have now taken direct action after council leaders waved away parent's protests.

Jane Eades of the Wandsworth Against Cuts group said that the community had come out in support of the occupation.

"The feeling among people here is one of real anger at the council for persisting with this and and we're beginning to feel rather popular," she added.

She also said that campaigners taking part in the occupation received food parcels from several residents today morning.

In response to the protest, Conservative council leaders, who have already tried to charge parents for their children to use the park, have cancelled a nearby children's playgroup and claimed the occupation is putting services in danger.

But Ms Eades said: "The people we've been speaking to have called it a cynical move by the council."