A COMMUNITY play area has been given a boost with a new bench.

The new bench was unveiled at Maiden Newton play area, Station Road on Monday.

The Friends of Maiden Newton play area have been working to raise funds for new equipment for the area.

Parents and children from the village crowded onto the new bench to celebrate.

Clare May from the friends said they were delighted. She said: “We are constantly fundraising at the moment for play equipment for the park and we needed a new bench.

“Our local newsagent No 64 has been supporting us and has been selling books and donating the proceeds to our fund.”

She added: “New playground equipment is thousands of pounds and we really wanted to say thank you for all the support we have had so far.

“Our fundraising efforts are still ongoing and we have lots of things planned for next year.

“It’s the same people who are always giving and we wanted to say thank you and say that we are spending the money and doing things but it’s quite expensive.”

The friends would like to get a bicycle roundabout for the play area. Mrs May said the playground was very special.

She said: “It’s the only play area in the village and Maiden Newton is growing all the time.

“There are so many children and there’s a lot of equipment available to the older children and we thought it would be nice to have something for the younger ones.”

She added: “It will be under the trees so when we get some sun people will be able to sit out.”

Mrs May said that the area was a safe place for children to play.

She said: “It’s just a lovely place to be able to go. I have four children and it’s nice to know they are safe and they can go and have fun.”

She added: “We would like to thank everybody who had helped with fundraising and helped us to put the bench in.”

The friends group also wanted to say a special thank you to No 64 newsagents for all their help and hard work and Groves Nurseries, Bridport who gave them a great deal on the bench.