VILLAGERS are celebrating after being awarded £10,000 from the National Lottery to buy equipment for the village play area.

Chardstock Park Trust is delighted about the award from the Big Lottery Fund which will help pay for play equipment at a new toddler area.

Trust secretary Donna Jacobs said: “Work has been under way for a few months by the committee and contractors to prepare the new area.

“Now that funds have been secured, the play equipment is on order from Huck Play UK Ltd in Bridport, who we’ve worked with previously.

“The new toddler area will be completed by spring 2013.”

A group of parent and village volunteers maintain and manage the play area. They formed the Trust in 2009 to reopen the existing play area which had been left to run down. Donna added: “With the help of the community the play area reopened in 2010. After many charity fundraising events and countless grant applications a rotating climbing frame, triple swing and suitable safety flooring were installed for the older children in 2011.

“We are very much looking forward to providing the younger members of the community with their own dedicated play area and will be installing equipment that they have asked for.”

The group aims to provide a fun and safe area for children to play and a sociable area for all ages of the community to use. Anyone interested in becoming involved in Chardstock play area should contact chardstockparktrust@hotmail.co.uk