A new £150,000 multi-use games area has been officially unveiled in a Nelson park after children helped to design it.

The Victoria Park facility was paid for by the Big Lottery Fund and Pendle Council, which allocated sums of £73,996 and £70,000, respectively.

It represents the last piece of the jigsaw for Pendle Council as it is the fourth and final facility of its kind to be installed in the borough as part of its three-year Children’s Play Programme which has cost a total of £261,146.

Mayor of Pendle Coun Marjorie Adams, today cut the ribbon at the facility which also has a play area.

The Children’s Play Prog-ramme was launched in March 2007 to enhance the quality and condition of play opportunities for under-16s in Pendle.

Under the scheme, multi-use games areas (MUGAs) have also been installed in Victory Park, Barnoldswick, Waterside Youth Centre, Colne and Walverden Park, Nelson.

The facilities have been paid for by the Children’s Play Initiative, which is part of the Big Lottery Fund.

Coun Ann Kerrigan, who represents parks, said: “The council’s parks and recre-ation service sourced the Big Lottery funding and has project-managed the Victor-ia Park play area and MUGA project.

“Children from Lomesh-aye Junior School were consulted and helped to create a facility that they want.

“It’s great how much the children have been involved to help create a better play area for all the community.”

Other consultation includ-ed liaising with the Friends of Victoria Park group.

Colin Patten, parks and recreation services mana-ger, said: “Proludic was successful in its bid to build the new facility and it has carried out a fantastic job.

“Thanks must go to everyone involved in this play area and MUGA .”