SLAM dunking pensioners and crown green bowls playing youngsters have come together to help transform a recreation ground which had fallen into disrepair.

Smith's Rec, off Selbourne Street, Frenchwood, which had been used by vandals, drug dealers and joy riders over the years has had a £200,000 makeover.

A brightly covered mural painted by young people in Frenchwood fills one wall at the side of a new basketball court which is complete with floodlights used for football and cricket. A teen shelter that runs adjacent to the bowling green is used by Smith's Recreation Ground Bowling Club. Dorothy Taylor, 84, said: "My husband has been playing bowls here for years and sometimes we found burned out cars on the green.

"This project has been good for the area and it keeps the young ones entertained. The club have been teaching them how to play bowls and they've been showing us how to play basketball which has been a lot of fun."

And the fun won't end there as Groundwork already have plans to relandscape and fully fit the top area of the playground with new equipment.