NEWPORT council says it is "reviewing options" for improving leisure facilities at Tredegar Park, but campaigners fear plans to re-open a popular splash park have been abandoned.

Last September council officials said plans to reinstate the splash pad at the city park were being developed, with a view to it re-opening this year.

It was said that a planning application would be submitted 'imminently', but plans have yet to be seen.

The old splash park closed in 2014, with the council saying it would cost too much to repair mechanical problems.

More than 1,800 people have since signed a petition calling for it to be re-opened.

On Wednesday, a spokeswoman for Newport council said: "Newport City Council is currently reviewing options for leisure improvement at Tredegar Park and an announcement will be made when a final decision has been taken."

Campaigner Michael Enea said he feared the plans to re-open the splash park may have been 'ditched', due to the length of time the issue has been under review.

"It's clearly not going to open this summer," Mr Enea said.

"It's a case of saying one thing and doing another."

Mr Enea said there is 'immense' support for re-opening the facility and believes it would prove a popular attraction.

Newport council opened the old water play feature – designed to entertain children during the summer – at a cost of £120,000 in 2007.

But it was forced to close several times.

In July 2013 Newport council closed the facility for essential repairs after a mechanical fault.

Later that month, fears it had caused a minor sickness bug saw it closed again.

At the time the council said the water play area was being closed as a precautionary measure, with regular monitoring revealing the possibility of the bug.

But the site never reopened again.