A tired and rundown play park has been given a £72,000 makeover with a new roundabout, swings and climbing frames.

The facilities have been installed in Gun Park, Eastry near Sandwich replacing the old equipment as part of an initiative two years in the making.

Residents and children from Eastry Primary School, next to Gun Park, were invited to review the top three designs at the Village Hall in December and every child voted for their favourite.

The total cost of the new play park, including the design and construction, was £72,000.

Some £57,400 was donated from Eastry Parish Council, £10,000 from National Lottery Fund, and £4,600 from Section 106 funding from the Shemara Farm housing development.

Kompan installed the new play area in the first three weeks of February 2023.

EPC chair, Mark Jones, said: “It’s great to see such an exciting new play area with brand new equipment for children of different ages and abilities.

"I am particularly pleased that we were able to install paths to link the equipment to make it easier for wheelchairs and pushchairs as well as inclusive pieces of play equipment all within our budget."

Vice chair Deborah Russell said: “I am really pleased with the updated play area, it has taken two years for it to come to fruition, so it is great to see village children and their families enjoying the new equipment.

"We have gone from a rather sad, dilapidated playground into an inclusive, colourful, and stimulating play area.

"I am proud that Eastry Parish Council voted unanimously to improve and update the play area for our local children.

"And we did this quickly within budget."