A £20,000 village play park project is swinging into life, just two years after its fundraising drive was launched.

The facility on the playing field behind New Hedges Village Haall now features a multi-play unit, with climbing frame, slides, a fireman’s pole and tunnels, alongside toddler swings and safety surfacing.

The community’s previous wooden playground structure had to be demolished because it was not cost-effective to repair.

So the New Hedges Play Area Regeneration Project was set up to raise funds for new play equipment; meeting its target for the first phase of work within a year and achieving its £20,000 goal within two years.

A Big Lottery Fund grant of £5,000 was the only major funding received for the scheme, with the remainder collected through local donations and fundraising.

Said New Hedges Village Hall chairman, Howard Rawson-Humphries: “We’ve had such a lot of local support which helped the project to work very quickly.

“We’d like to thank everyone who has donated – whether it was £2 or £20 – and who has come along to our fundraising events which included a concert and coffee mornings.

“Part of the proceeds from the village hall boot sales were also a great help.

“We’re very grateful to Pembrokeshire County Council’s environmental services department, who saved us the VAT on the play equipment, and to the former treasurer of the village hall, David Mitchell, who worked hard on our successful Lottery application.”

But fundraising is not over yet, as a further phase to enhance the playing field with a basketball net and goalposts is being planned.

Added Howard: “We’re very proud of our hall and its facilities and the range of events held here, and the fact that we have a large car park and the outdoor play equipment makes it very popular for children’s parties.”