BRAND new play equipment worth thousands of pounds has been unveiled for youngsters in a Great Tey.

After a new housing development was built in Parsonage Court, Granville housing developer was obliged to contribute to facilities in the surrounding area.

The result is the installation of new playground equipment worth £70,000 with the play area unveiled to the village on Saturday, much to the excitement of young people and the parish councillors who worked to see the project come to fruition.

Robert Frost, who is a Great Tey parish councillor and was at Saturday’s unveiling, explained the equipment had been chosen by youngsters at the nearby Great Tey Primary School.

He said: “We got the pupils at Great Tey Primary School to draw designs for their ideal playground.

“We made sure to talk to children, because we didn’t want old people saying, 'This is what children should have’.

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“We did some consultations and designs, but it was led by what children wanted."

Mr Frost, who is 38 and has two young children of his own, said increases in prices had to be taken into account to ensure the project didn't run over budget.

“We had occasions where prices increased and we had to go back and change things because the price wasn’t in the budget anymore, but we haven’t run into any other obstacles as such.”

He added: “We have noticed older kids are out playing with the new equipment much more – there are rope swings where children can play together, rather than them playing by themselves.

“Getting older kids who haven’t had anything to do in the village and playing as a group and working tougher on equipment – that’s what we aim for because they are learning and developing their social skills.

“Collaborative play is something we aim for.”

Granville, the Parsonage Court housing developers, was also in attendance.

Mr Frost added: “The playground is a tangible thing for the village to get from the houses and will last for the next 20 years.”