RUSPIDGE is rejoicing that it can topple the ancient wooden play tower on the village playing field thanks to lottery cash.
A safer modern version can be installed thanks to the £5,000 grant from the Lottery Awards for All Scheme.
"We have patched it up a few times but is is getting rather weak now. There are a lot of finger traps for the youngsters too," said Tony Warwick, the secretary of Ruspidge Welfare Trust.
He said the Trust, which maintains the field next door to the Ruspidge Memorial Hall, had already made one unsuccessful application for lottery money so the news of the grant was particularly pleasing.
However making the application more acceptable the second time around had been "a bit of a challenge".
Although the money covered only part of the cost they faced for replacing the tower – £5,000 is the maximum Awards for All grant – they could now look at digging out the old tower supports and preparing for a metal structure that would be safer and more durable.
"We have split the job up into phases. Hopefully we will be able to start the preparation stage as soon as the weather improves," said Mr Warwick.
"Everybody is very please now that we have got this far."