Bush Fair Liberal Democrat councillor Eleanor Macy - together with children from Purford Green School - was at Nicholls Field playground this morning to officially open the new play area.

The first phase of Harlow Council's town wide playground improvement programme is now complete, giving the town's showpiece playgrounds a real boost.

The improvement follow public consultations last the summer, when staff from the council and play experts Wicksteed visited playgrounds across town, asking what children like to play on and getting children to vote on their choice of equipment. As a result, ten play areas now have exciting new equipment, safer surfacing and fences to keep the dogs out. Eleanor says:

"Thanks to our playground improvement programme we have local play areas that are bright and fun and chosen by the very people that use them."

The second phase of the improvement programme will bring smaller local playgrounds up to a higher standard. Work has begun and will be finished by March next year.