A REVAMPED play area has been officially reopened in Chipping Sodbury.

Town mayor Cllr Wendy Whittle cut the ribbon to the new and improved The Ridings play ground on Tuesday (August 5) at a celebration attended by local parents and their children.

An ice cream van was parked up to provide free treats to youngsters, who enjoyed using the new play equipment which includes a climbing tower with a slide and bridges for young children and a tall tower with climbing wall and sliding bars for older children.

Two new toddler swings, two normal swings and a swinging basket have also been added and a younger children’s area includes two spring toys, one for two and one for four children, a rotating cup for children to sit in and a stand on see-saw.

Cllr Whittle said: “A lot of the old equipment was made from wood and we worried about children getting splinters. It was old and now was the time to improve the area.

“We have been more adventurous with the choice of play equipment and we wanted to provide something for older children as well.”

The well-used park, adjacent to Chipping Sodbury’s rugby, tennis and cricket clubs, was closed for four weeks in June while the £50,000 overhaul was carried out.

Sodbury Town Council facilitated the works which were paid for through funding from South Gloucestershire Council’s New Homes Bonus, National Lottery grants and Chipping Sodbury Town Lands’ Charity. The town council also contributed £12,000.

A picnic bench and additional seating have also been added and the council hopes to pay for a new slide and wheelchair accessible roundabout in the autumn.