A council will rethink its decision to demolish two adventure playgrounds after a parent and campaigner sought legal action.

Watford Borough Council decided it would demolish the supervised play areas at Harebreaks and Harwood at a meeting in July.

The closure meant 16 people would lose their jobs and the decision angered many families who had been campaigning to keep them open.

READ MORE: Families in tears as council agrees to close adventure playgrounds.

Closing adventure playgrounds takes away vital community resource.

Council to demolish adventure playgrounds.

'Children were crying when they found out': Two adventure playgrounds face closure in Watford.

Following a letter before action sent to the council by law firm Leigh Day, who are acting for the parent, Leanne Johnson, the council said it will review its decision about the future of the playgrounds.

Mrs Johnson said: “I’m so delighted that there is now a chance the playgrounds may stay open.

"I grew up in the area and went to the playgrounds where I could meet friends in a safe environment.

“My children really love going to Harebreaks after school, which will be particularly useful when I start evening classes at college this autumn.

"We enjoy going to the family days which are only possible with the staff there to organise the activities.

“I really hope the staff can stay and the Council doesn’t bulldoze the site as my children will be distraught to lose the playgrounds.”

In 2010, a consultation by the council concluded that the adventure playgrounds were an integral part of the play services in the area, yet six years later it decided to replace them with unstaffed playgrounds.

Leigh Day solicitor Rowan Smith said: “We welcome the council’s decision to look at its decision afresh. It is clear that the Council ought to have consulted parents and users first.

“The local community had a legitimate expectation that the adventure playgrounds would remain open, unless there were good reasons to close them.

"As this was the case, it should have been explained to them with an opportunity to share their views.”

Susie Huxham, speaking on behalf of Watford Borough Council, said: "Whilst the council completely disagrees with a number of the claims made in the legal challenge to its decision to transform Watford’s adventure playgrounds, council officers have taken the view that it would be prudent to ask cabinet to consider the matter afresh in October.

“As before, cabinet members will consider all the information that is presented to them very carefully before reaching their decision.”