YOUNGSTERS at a Park North primary school got their first look at a brand-new play area.

Holy Family Catholic Primary School £20,000 new play area opened on Saturday, after a massive fundraising effort by teachers, parents and pupils.

Themed around a medieval castle, the purpose-built wooden playground features a slide, climbing wall and ropes. It sits on top of small hillock in the corner of the school playground, called The Mound by generations of children.

Headteacher Karen Bathe said: “I’ve had a vision for this space for years. It’s just been a wasted space. Originally, we looked at taking it away and trying to expand the playground but that wasn’t cost effective.

“We talked to the children and they said they wanted somewhere extra to play. They designed it.

“We had a day where all the children could have a go. They loved it. The older ones really enjoyed the spider web ropes and having little chats underneath the fort. The younger ones loved the slide.”

The play area, which was opened at the school’s annual fun day, has been funded by the school’s parents’ and friends’ association and the National Lottery grant.

Claire Newbury, chairman of the PFA, which raised £10,000 towards the construction costs, said: “It’s great to see something like this in our school for the children.”

Mum-of-four Claire has a daughter in Year 6: “She’s extremely excited but gutted she’s leaving at the end of the year. Her words were, ‘I’ve only got a few weeks left.’ I said she’d have to make the most of it and use it as much as possible.”

The school is fundraising to put a theatre stage and other equipment in the castle play area.