WITH a wiggle of the hips and a wave to the crowds, Britain’s Got Talent finalist Steven Hall declared Ambleside’s new Kirkstone Playground open.

The launch had a heavy police presence – in support of PCSO Laura Jackson, who was the driving force behind the £69,000 project.

When the old playground was declared unfit for use, it was Laura who went house-to-house delivering letters seeking support for a new playground, and helped to set up a community fund-raising group supported by Lakes Parish Council.

But the project needed more than local fund-raising could achieve, and group secretary Ursula Brendling applied for a £50,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme.

The landscape design and supervision of the project was carried out by John Nuttall of Groundwork North East, who created a space furnished with a walled fort, climbing rocks, slides, roundabout and space to play, all set on a grassy slope.

Kendal’s BGT star Steven Hall was the number one choice of children to open the playground, performing on stage in perfect step with Gemma Blackwell, 10, and Sophie Dean, 11.

Former BT engineer Steven, who gave his time free, was presented with a basket of fruit donated by Margaret at Granny Smith’s.

Among the guests were Chief Inspector Gordon Rutherford, Lakes Parish Council chairman Elwyn Bradshaw, equipment co-ordinator Paul Bennett and Community Spaces Facilitator John Gillman.

Lakes PC vice-chairman and community group leader Fiona Sparrow thanked the Rotary Club of Ambleside, Hayes Garden World, Cumbria Community Foundation, the Frieda Scott Trust, Home Housing, police, South Lakeland District Council, the Co-op and Lakes Parish Council for their support.