THE classmates of a Fylde schoolgirl who died from a rare form of brain cancer have opened a new £10,000 adventure school playground in memory of their friend.

Lisa McDowall, 9, died after becoming one of only three people in the UK to be diagnosed with her condition at Liverpool's Alder Hey Hospital, on December 27, last year.

The youngster - a year-five pupil at St Chad's Primary School, Hardhorn Road, Poulton - had been admitted to hospital suffering from a mystery virus less than nine weeks earlier.

Lisa's friends and teachers had the idea to build the adventure play area inside the school grounds to pay tribute to her.

After months of fund-raising, pupils joined Lisa's mum, Carole, sister, Clare, 15, and St Chad's Reverend Martin Keighley, to open the park and say farewell to "the girl who loved and lived life to the full" during a moving ceremony on Friday, May 21. St Chad's Headmaster, Ian Woods said: "Lisa meant an awful lot to all of us at the school. We wanted something which reflected her personality that we could all share in.

"She was always a well-behaved, fun-loving but hard-working girl. Very popular with her classmates and brimming with potential.

"It's very very sad but it's nice to know that she'll always be known to us, and future generations, as the girl who loved and lived life to the full."

Former teacher, Jenny Powers, said: "We've all had a tough time coming to terms with this but at least now we can enjoy remembering her and her time here with us."

Lisa's classmates also paid tribute to their friend. Lydia Whiteoak, 10, said: "We really wanted to do something in Lisa's memory as the whole class thought she was very special."

Owen Ellis, 10, said: "Everyone liked Lisa. She always danced everywhere."

Rebecca Evans, 9, said: "Whenever you fell out with a friend Lisa would always be there. She was always there when you fell down and hurt yourself."

Iona Garrow, 10, said: "The playground is an excellent idea. If Lisa was here now she would have loved to play on it."

Daniel Woolton, 9, said: "Lisa was always smiling, she was everyone's friend."

Lisa's name is inscribed in the school's 'Garden of Friendship' built earlier this year from funds collected by school governors and 'Friends of St Chad's'.