THE youngest visitors to Swindon town centre have been left with nowhere safe to play after the owners of the Brunel Centre, Westfield, decided to close its under-fives soft play area.

In its place on the first floor, Bournemouth-based summer and surf wear outlet, Just Add Water, is setting up shop.

Jo Kirkland, 30, from Liden, is one of a number of parents who are unhappy with the decision.

She has been taking her two-year-old daughter, Lauren, to the play area on a regular basis for more than a year.

The deal was always that, if she behaved herself while her mum shopped, Lauren would be allowed to let off steam among the giant animal shapes, toys and slide.

But in a recent visit, the pair found that the play area had been removed and there was not even a notice to explain why.

Mrs Kirkland said: "Lauren was in tears. Our arrangement was always that if she was a good girl, she could go and have a play while I sat down and got my breath back and chatted to the other parents.

"How could I explain to her where it was when I hadn't a clue myself?

"It was always well used and bustling with children and there is simply nowhere else in the town centre that offers a clean, warm, free indoor play area for the under-fives."

Now hoardings have gone up saying, "Coming soon Just Add Water," and following enquiries by the Evening Advertiser a sign has been put up by centre manager Nick Beaumont-Jones.

It reads: "It is with great regret that we have now closed the soft play centre. This is because there has been so much interest from new retailers wanting to come to the Brunel Centre there is no longer space available in which to locate the soft play centre. We apologise for any inconvenience you may have been caused."

Just Add Water is taking up five units at the centre, including the one formerly occupied by the play area.

Westfield's development communications executive, Tiffany Bitmead, explained that the play area could not simply be moved elsewhere because it was custom-built to the unit.

The company that made it has now gone out of business, so it cannot be contacted to fit it in another part of the centre.

But Mrs Kirkland feels that, although it made no money directly, the play area is a big loss for the centre.

She said: "They say they want to attract families to the centre, but they have just got rid of one of the most attractive features."