Commercial events that take place in  Royal Parks need to be better assessed for risk levels, the National Audit Office has claimed.

In a report published today, the NAO argued that moves towards investing in commercial events, aimed at increasing the agency's annual income, need to be managed better, while a more reliable basis is needed for ensuring costs are covered.

This year the independent charity established by the agency to manage the events aims to raise £5 million, in addition to the annual grant received from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

In addition, auditors argued that strategies aimed at encouraging greater access to the Royal Parks have been devised, and that action plans and targets would ensure greater effectiveness, along with better updated publicity and marketing material.

The management capacity of the Royal Parks could also be improved by making comparisons with other parks both in the UK and abroad, the report's authors concluded, through participation in the Green Flag Awards Scheme.

"The agency looks after some 5,000 acres of green space in London and there is much to be praised in the work it does," said auditor general Sir John Bourn.

"This report identifies ways in which the agency can sharpen up the management of the parks.

"The parks are a valued feature of London life, and it is important to learn from, and contribute to, all that is happening in parks in the rest of the country and indeed the rest of the world."