FAMILIES are swinging pretty after they unveiled a new £70,000 play area which they had helped design and build.

The opening of the children’s play park and an assault course for older children in Westlands Country Park, Colchester, is the culmination of 18 months of hard work by a group of 11 parents and grandparents, who had no experience in park building until they embarked on the scheme.

As the Friends of Westlands Country Park, they applied for funding from Essex Environment Trust, Cory Environmental Trust and Essex County Council’s community initiatives fund.

They organised public meetings and helped design the site and pick all the equipment down to the noticeboards and benches.

It was unveiled at a grand opening ceremony attended by 400 people.

Secretary of the group, Victoria Muir, 36, of James Carter Road, said: “It hasn’t been an easy journey. We have done everything ourselves.

“We have had obstacles along the way, but it really gives us a sense that we have achieved this.”

They had to manage conflicting feelings among residents about what should be included and where it should be placed.

They also had to cope with the disappointment of seeing one of four new benches in the park wrecked by vandals weeks before it opened.

Karen Ward-Murtagh, Friends’ chairman, and a mum-of-two, said: “Everyone who has come into the park has said how lovely it is.

“Before it was mainly used by dog walkers, now it’s a place for the whole community to enjoy.

“Since it opened, the children have been in the park every day, out in the fresh air instead of being at home playing PlayStation and we, as adults, have all found new friends through the process.”

They have now set their sights on raising more funds for a wildflower area, an outdoor gym, a table tennis area and a gazebo at the site off James Carter Road, Prettygate.