State-of-the-art play equipment has been installed in Malmesbury after thousands of pounds of fundraising by local residents.

A new zip-wire and basketball hoops costing £17,000 are the latest addition to White Lion play park which has so far seen about £150,000 worth of equipment added to the site.

The White Lion Park Recreation Association was set up by local residents to build a play park and family facilities for the community.

One of the founding members, Dave Harvey, was thrilled to see the latest zip wire and basketball equipment installed just over a week ago in time for the summer holidays.

“The kids love it; they are having great fun,” said the grandfather of seven.

“As soon as the decent weather is out the kids are out there playing.

“The whole thing has been a great success.

“We wanted to get a zip wire from the outset but didn’t have enough funds, however we were able to get some very welcome planning grant money from the town council and funding from the area board.”

The park currently offers a smaller children’s play area with swings, a roundabout, a seesaw and activity centre, while the older section boasts two basket swings, a rope climbing pyramid, four conventional swings, a climbing wall, fireman’s pole and two six-a-side football pitches.

“The association was set up for the children to have something in the area,” said Mr Harvey, the father of Malmesbury’s chief retained fireman Chris.

“It’s going back a few years ago now but the park used to be a big open field with run-down play equipment and we wanted to get something for all the community to use.”

Picnic benches and additional trees have been put in to make the area more family friendly and aesthetically pleasing.

Mr Harvey added: “We get playgroups going down there and families going there for picnics.

“The expenditure is about £150,000 by now and it has all been done with the community and the grants we have received.

“There’s a long list of people and local companies who have helped us – we couldn’t have done it without them.”

Among those is Nurden garden centre, who helped move a large oak tree into a new position for the zip wire to be installed, as well as planting a silver birch tree while they were there.