A major revamp to a village play area was marked by a special party for children from local primary schools.

The £73,000 project for the East Common Play Area in Redbourn, saw the old and tired play equipment replaced by new kit including a zip wire, a large log-climbing frame with cargo nets and a tunnel through an earth mound.

Safety surfacing has also been laid and a gravel path to improve access. A shelter, designed in conjunction with Oaklands College, will be installed later in the year for parents and carers looking after children and to provide a picnic space in bad weather.

The instigator of the scheme was the East Common Project - an offshoot of the parish council – which raised £10,000 through a series of fundraising events. Additionally the Veolia Environmental Trust awarded £40,000 through the Landfill Communities Fund and other smaller donations came from village organisations and individuals.

The reopening, which followed consultation with children and their parents in the area, was celebrated by a party for children, funders and parent organisations at which there were attractions like face painting and balloon animal magic. Hitchin and Harpenden MP Peter Lilley cut the ribbon to officially mark the reopening later in the afternoon.

Redbourn parish councillor Nadia Davies said: “We are so pleased with the finished result and would like to thank everyone who helped us make our plans become reality.”