A TEENAGER who donated money from a bravery award to help pay for a new play park watched as it was unveiled and said: "I just hope people enjoy it."

Faizan Awan, 15, was guest of honour at the official opening of the new play area in Corporation Park, Blackburn.

Along with Coun Kate Hollern, the executive member for sport and leisure at Blackburn with Darwen Council, he cut the ribbon allowing local youngsters to use the new £30,000 facility.

Faizan donated the £1,500 he was given by the National Kidney Research Foundation when he won one of their bravery awards for his battle against kidney failure. '

The Beardwood High School pupil, of Leamington Road, Blackburn, spent 18 months on a dialysis machine in between his kidneys failing and an operation to give him a replacement donated by his father, Khalid, which took place in June 2000.

It was the second time Faizan had undergone such an operation, having had his first transplant when he was just three years old when his kidneys were found to be malfunctioning.

After the operation, it was feared Faizan might need a third operation after he developed an infection but he finally returned to school last year.

In total, he has undergone 25 operations since he was born, and before the second transplant he spent every night attached to a dialysis machine, purifying the blood because the kidneys had failed.

By handing over his prize money to the council, Faizan kickstarted a chain of events which led to Saturday's opening.

The council responded by donating its own cash as part of a £2million scheme aimed at restoring the park using Lottery money.

Coun Hollern said: "Faizan is a brave young man whose generosity has made this new park possible.

"It is wonderful that he could be here to open it, as I know he has been ill lately.

"He saw that the area needed a new facility for youngsters and I think it humbles us all that he has worked so hard to make sure the park got a new play area."

Faizan said: "I am really pleased to see it has opened at last.

"I hope people enjoying playing in it."

A plaque commemorating Faizan's generosity has been placed on the fence next to the entrance of the play park.

Council officers involved pupils from Beardwood High in the design consultation for the park.

The opening was part of a wider event held to try and make the local community use the park more.

It was one of a number of Spirit of Friendship events being organised by Blackburn with Darwen Council to celebrate the Commonwealth Games scheduled to be held in Manchester in the summer.