SUN, swimwear and even Santa are promised at a fun day in Penhill tomorrow to raise money for a new splash park.

The Penhill Funday will be held from 11.30am to 4pm at the site of the old paddling pool, off Inglesham Way.

Activities on offer will include live music, a bouncy castle and face painting, as well as a visit by Santa – in the guise of Rachel Reid who will take part in the Santa Run at Christmas to raise money for the splash park.

The Sevenfields Splash Park Steering Group was set up recently with the aim of replacing the former pool, which was gutted by a Fire">Fire">Fire">Fire">fire in 1991.

Lorna Breslin, a member of the group, said the aim of tomorrow’s event is to raise awareness of the project which she estimates will cost around £750,000.

“The paddling pool was the hub of the community,” she said. “In this day and age when you have kids hanging around the streets with nothing to do it would be great to recreate that atmosphere. It would give them something to distract them.

“It would also be good for the neighbouring areas. We used to get people from Moredon, Gorse Hill and Pinehurst coming over and that’s what we would like to see again.”

Lorna said she was expecting a good turnout at the event, which has raised interest in the community.

She said: “I have had a lot of positive comments and I’m expecting people from all over Swindon to come.

“We are putting our two ward councillors – David Glaholm and Paul Baker – in the stocks, so I’m sure there will be a queue for that.”

Other entertainment will include a performance by local band SN2, karaoke, a martial arts demonstration and visits by the fire brigade, Police">Police">Police">police and local scouts.

There will also be stalls, including a coconut shy and a tombola.

Swindon Mayor David Wren will be on hand to give out prizes to the three winners of the Design a Splash Park Logo competition.

The original water attraction was destroyed along with the adjoining cafe by a fire in 1991.

The steering group hopes the new splash park will be up and running by 2012.

A facebook page, called Bring Back Penhill Paddling Pool, has been set up to promote the campaign and has more than 1,000 members.