A £30,000 grant has been given to a council to improve a community’s play area.

Lancashire Environmental Fund has given grant to Mellor Parish Council to allow the installation of new play equipment for younger children in the area.

A residents’ consultation meeting was held in June where they voted in favour of revamping the play area at St Mary’s Gardens, Mellor.

The parish council said they want to erect a ‘Toddler Tower’ at St Mary’s Gardens, Mellor, which will include a climbing frame with a slide.

Additional fencing will be erected around the park to provide better and safer access for pedestrians and young children. A new drainage system will be also be installed.

Parish clerk Teresa Taylor said: “I’m absolutely delighted. It’s something the parish council has wanted to get for a while.

“We had a residents’ consultation meeting back in June and the residents were very supportive of the idea.

“Some residents said they would like equipment for teenagers but sadly there isn’t space in the area at the moment but is something we are looking at for the future.

“Drainage has been an ongoing issue so to get that and this new equipment for the children is fantastic.

“Mellor isn’t a massive area and the pre-school children do not have any equipment to use.

“The current equipment caters for children aged between six and seven up to 12 and the big steps on the side wall are not stable or the right length for the young children to use.

“Further financial support has been granted by Thwaites Brewery, BAE Systems and Wincanton Logistics, and grateful thanks are expressed to these organisations.”

Rick Bailey, Thwaites chief executive officer, said: “We are pleased to support the Mellor community through our donation towards the play equipment.

“We have a number of properties in the area and next year we will be moving our stables, head office and brewery nearby, so it’s important to us to see the community thrive.”

Cllr Noel Walsh, who represents the area and also is a member of the Parish Council, said: “I’m relieved that we have secured the funding and that this project goes ahead. There will now be a play area which merits use.”

Work is expected to start soon and the play area should be open next spring.

Fore more details contact the parish clerk on 01772 877248 or email mellorpc@outlook.com