THE preservation of a much-loved green has culminated in the purchase of a new park bench.

Many neighbours were upset by plans to build houses on the open field at Orrest Drive, Windermere, where children have played and sledged for years, said resident Joyce Hatley.

They formed a Save the Green Committee and were delighted when South Lakeland District Council agreed to leave half the plot undeveloped.

Mrs Hatley described the green as a "small area of countryside in the middle of Windermere among terraced houses, many of which have no garden, some with a small yard that gets no sunshine".

She said: "Four houses for locals were built on the other half of the green and we hope that when their children grow a bit bigger they too will enjoy playing on the green as much as former generations did."

The new bench green has a plaque thanking everybody who helped to preserve the green.

Windermere and Bowness Civic Society organised the purchase and installation of the seat, with funding from their own coffers, South Lakes Housing and the Save the Green Committee.