Families bathed in late summer sunshine when the new Wilburton community playground was formally opened.

Ely Standard: L-R Jonathan Maskery and Floss Rozier (DHL), Simon Rudkin, (Sanctuary Housing), Cllr Chris Fella (Chairman of playground working group), Cllr Bill Hunt, Cllr Kevin Hennessy (Wilburton Parish Council, Chairman), Daniel, Katie and Zachary (competition winners)L-R Jonathan Maskery and Floss Rozier (DHL), Simon Rudkin, (Sanctuary Housing), Cllr Chris Fella (Chairman of playground working group), Cllr Bill Hunt, Cllr Kevin Hennessy (Wilburton Parish Council, Chairman), Daniel, Katie and Zachary (competition winners) (Image: Archant)

The second and final part of the new facility has been completed and to celebrate children enjoyed a bouncy castle, face painting, free ice-creams and a story telling tent plus the opportunity to simply play on the new equipment.

A new sign was designed by competiton winners Katie, Daniel and Zachary who were helped by County Councillor Bill Hunt to cut the ribbon.

Graham Nolan, Sanctuary Housing’s head of neighbourhood partnerships, said: “We are pleased to have been able to fund and support this new playground which is providing a safe environment for local children and families to play.

“Spaces like these are important to the everyday lives of the community and will support a greater sense of community spirit.

“By supporting local partnerships and investing in projects like this, we can see how the community can really benefit when organisations and people work together.”

Kevin Hennessy, Chairman of Wilburton Parish Council explained that the playground could not have been built without substantial donations from the AmeyCespa Community Fund, The Abbey Group, Sanctuary Housing, Wilburton Beer Festival and DHL, who also brought along one of their delivery trucks to the event for the children to explore and to teach them the principles of truck awareness and child safety.

Wilburton Brownies joined in the fun wearing their uniforms and they were officially thanked for planting bulbs at the playground.

Cllr Hunt thanked Wilburton Parish Council for all their funding and hard work.