Diamond Hall Park in Millfield, Sunderland, made national headlines this week after the Echo revealed parents had given its "minimalist" design the thumbs-down.

Now, one angry mum has branded the site a "death trap" after her son cracked his head on one of the concrete plinths.

Six-year-old Michael Turner was playing on one of the many stone structures, when he fell and injured himself.

Mum Kaye, 26, who lives with her son at Havelock Park, just off Hylton Road, said: "His dad took him up there to have a look because he knew it was new. He said he was put off at first because it looks like it's not even complete.

"They were playing around and he got on one of the blocks, fell and hit his head on another one. If he hadn't put his hands out it could have been a lot more serious."

Fortunately, Michael was fine after his fall, but Kaye fears another child will be seriously hurt.

"It's an absolute disgrace," she said. "It looks like a death trap. I was gobsmacked to find out it cost £70,000 on that – it's a disgrace.

"When you take a look at Barnes Park and see all the effort being put in there. There's a lot more thought for children there. When you look at this park, it looks like a building site that's not been completed."

Parents have complained the park has no slides, swings or fun apparatus to play on.

Kaye has told Michael, a pupil at St Joseph's School, that he is not to return to the park, which is round the corner from where his dad, Andrew, lives.

Sunderland City Council has defended the minimalist design, claiming the community, including Diamond Hall Junior and Infant School pupils and their parents, were involved in the creation with Tyne and Wear Play Association.

Julie Grey, head of community services at the council, said letters were sent to 300 households, asking residents for suggestions and inviting them to an open day at the park.

She added that during the consultation residents suggested the main structure be changed from wood to concrete as it would be more "long-lasting".

Eric Anderson, development officer at Tyne and Wear Play Association, said: "The features that have been provided in Millfield community space promote a more natural and improvised approach to outdoor play rather than a reliance on traditional play park-type equipment.

"The design provided in the park is very different and probably not what many people are used to in a public play space, but the provision of features, such as natural materials, mounds, logs and blocks, encourages children to play more imaginatively and creatively.

"This broader and more naturalistic approach to play provision is one that is being encouraged by all the key play and safety agencies as well as being endorsed by central and local government.

"It is not intended to replace traditional play space, but rather to add to the mix of play provisions and to enrich children's opportunities to experience a wide variety of stimulating play experiences."