A COMMUNITY is celebrating after being awarded a grant to help transform an abandoned field into a new play area - for children and adults.

Villagers in Flookburgh will soon be able to take advantage of the state-of-the-art facility thanks to a £49,391 grant from funding body WREN.

The cash will be used to buy playground equipment at the new Moor Lane play site, which sits on a previously abandoned, muddy field.

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The area will include an adult gym, toddler play area, junior play area and a free play area for ball games. There will also be a car park, shelter and picnic area. The park is designed for people of all ages and abilities.

Cllr Gill Gardner, chair of Flookburgh and District Recreational Charity, believes the facility will make a huge difference to the lives of people living in the area - but added £25,000 is still needed to finalise the plan.

She said: “This project will provide a real boost to the people of the local area and beyond. It’s fantastic that WREN has awarded us this money and we’re really looking forward to our new playground taking shape over the next few months. We now have only £25k left to raise and are looking for support from local businesses and individuals to help us reach our final target to deliver this first- class facility.”

WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, biodiversity and heritage projects.

Penny Beaumont, WREN’s grant manager for Cumbria, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Flookburgh Moor Lane Play project and pleased our funding will provide such a fantastic facility for children and young families in Flookburgh and the surrounding villages. WREN is always happy to consider grant applications for projects that make a difference to local communities and we’re really looking forward to seeing this one take shape soon.”

It is hoped the site will be ready to use by October this year.

Moor Lane Play is aiming to turn a