YOUNGSTERS were celebrating yesterday as a new £30,000 play area was opened.

The play area in Hackworth Park, Shildon, has been provided with funding from SureStart Shildon and Newton Aycliffe West.

The money was made available last September.

Parents, carers and children were consulted by SureStart and Shildon Town Council as to where the new park should be and what equipment should be installed.

Yesterday, the chairman of Shildon Town Council, Councillor Garry Huntington, opened the park, which is for children under-five.

Coun Huntington said: "This play area has been made possible because of the establishment of SureStart Shildon and Newton Aycliffe West.

"Everyone is becoming increasingly aware of what SureStart aims to do, and this playground is a very good example of this. It is about working with local organisations and families to improve and develop existing and new facilities and activities for children under five and their families.''

For parent volunteers from SureStart, the new play area is the result of months of hard work. It is the first major project they have undertaken.

Parent Tracey Ward said: "This new park is brilliant and we need more like this in Shildon.

"This is just the start for us. What we would like to see is more parent volunteers to come and join us. We especially want fathers to get involved, because we want to hear their point of view and would like to find out what they would like to see for young children under five in Shildon."

Assistant town clerk Tracey Bellas said that the council has agreed to insure and maintain the new play area and had provided the seating for the site.

She said: "This is what the parents and children voted for and we hope that it is going to provide hours of fun and entertainment for the children. And we hope that the people of Shildon will take pride in the park and take care of it."