YOUNGSTERS have been celebrating the opening of a new play area in a former pit village.
Durham City MP Gerry Steinberg officially opened the Coxhoe Kids Zone during a day of activities and entertainment to celebrate the completion of the site.
The project was launched in 1998 by parents concerned that there was nothing for children after Durham City Council removed old play equipment from the site.
Parents launched their own campaign to raise money for the area after the council said it could not afford to replace the equipment.
The group has raised more than £242,000 for the playground, including grants from the National Lottery and Coalfields Regeneration Trust Partnership.
Facilities cater for toddlers to teenagers and include football goals, slides and seesaws as well as a basketball court.
Partnership secretary Barbara Hepplewhite said: "We have monitored the numbers using the area.
"It has changed from a place where people mostly walked the dog and one or two children visited occasionally to one which has a real buzz."
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