A GROUP of villagers have swung into action with a £70,000 campaign to create a new play area.

The playground at Blakeney was closed - except for a single swing - following an annual safety inspection earlier this year.

Residents then formed the Blakeney Recreation Community Group to raise funds for a new playground.

Chair of the group, Beth Fordham, said: "Our mission is to create a new play area to provide children in Blakeney and the surrounding area a place to catch up on many months of lost interaction with their peers, to reconnect with their local outside spaces and to rekindle an enthusiasm for outdoor play and exercise.

"We are aiming to raise £70,000 to fund this play area, which will also include seating and picnic benches for all members of the community to use, young and old.

"This regenerated communal space will be complemented by a nature trail around the recreation area, for which we have received funding through a Forest of Dean District Council community grant.

"Our first task was to find out via a survey what the community wanted in a future new play area, and the children of Blakeney School also completed a separate questionnaire.

"We received a fantastic response and the feedback has been invaluable in setting us on the right path to develop a play area that truly reflects the needs of the community."

Pupils at Blakeney School were also asked to design a logo for the new group and the winner was Isla MacLachlan in Year Six.

The group is holding a fund-raising autumn fair at the Blakeney recreation area on Saturday, October 30 from 11am.

Among the attractions will be a bouncy castle, a Hallowe’en costume competition, pumpkin carving; toy, sweet and craft stalls, a raffle and tombola, drinks and hot food

Customers shopping at Tesco in Lydney and Coleford will have the opportunity to vote for the project through the stores’ blue token scheme.

Online shoppers can help by registering with www.easyfundraising.org.uk or smile.amazon.co.uk.

The group is also registered as a good cause on the Forest Lottery and has a fund-raising page on www.wonderful.org