Wrexham's country parks will be devastated after cuts to the service were approved.

That was the view of the chair of Friends of Bellevue Park, Barbara Jones, after Wrexham Council set its budget for 2018/19.

Among a raft of cuts proposed as the authority looks to save £13 million over the next two years was a plan to slash £100,000 by changing the parks service.

The local authority will now press ahead with proposals to cut the number of rangers at the county borough’s 11 country parks, with the Streetscene service helping staff to clean the parks.

Mrs Jones said she fears it will mean the end of events in Bellevue Park, including the popular Music in the Park series of summer concerts.

And she added she feels terrible for the rangers who will lose their jobs as a result of the cuts.

"I'm really disappointed and I feel so sorry for the people who are going to be made redundant. These cuts are going to be absolutely devastating for the parks in Wrexham.

"All the services will go, Music in the Park will be lost and that is such a big thing for Bellevue.

"The rangers all work so hard and I don't know how the parks are going to keep going without them. Three rangers for 11 parks across the county just isn't enough.

"I would like to thank the rangers for all the work they have done for us over the years."

At Wednesday's full council meeting, members opted for the budget by a margin of 30-16, with Cllr Alun Jenkins abstaining.

Council leader Cllr Mark Pritchard called it a “safe, secure and fair budget” for the people of Wrexham,

But Plaid member Cllr Carrie Harper opposed the budget, saying Wrexham had borne the brunt of austerity cuts for the last decade and it was no surprise that members faced unpalatable choices.

However, she said some cuts were unacceptable and would affect services, and lent her support to an alternative 2018-19 budget tabled by Labour.

That was defeated and the budget proposed by the executive board was passed.

The Labour group members had proposed to limit parks service cuts to £50,000, rather than £100,000.