CHILDREN in Riding Mill were swinging and climbing with delight on Friday when their new play park was revealed.

Community group Riding Mill Play and Regeneration Group, set up to improve the village park, worked alongside Broomhaugh and Riding Parish Council to raise the £41,000 required for the project.

The project aimed to improve play items for older children and make it easier for those with disabilities to access the equipment.

Children at Broomhaugh First School were asked for their ideas about what new items they would like to see at the park – with their number one priority being a set of monkey bars.

A climbing boulder and team swing have also been added.

Fund-raising for the work has been ongoing for several years and on Friday, sponsors, local families and those who had supported the project gathered at the park to celebrate its completion.

And the children were thrilled to receive top tips from one special guest with particular climbing prowess – Spiderman.

The project secured over £6,000 from residents and local businesses, including Osbit Limited, together with grants from the parish council, the Big Lottery Fund, the Community Foundation, Northumberland County Council, Postcode Local Trust, the Sir James Knott Trust, Tesco Bags of Hep and Tynedale Lions.

Chairman of the play park group, Rod Padgett said: “We were overwhelmed with the generosity of local businesses, residents and grant providers who really got behind this project and made it happen.”