A COMMUNITY playground in Magor is to undergo major refurbishment - thanks to the efforts of a group of families.

A committee of mothers, fathers and grand-parents raised the cash to buy a set of play equipment for the fenced off and worn out park near Magor Voluntary Aided Primary School.

Sara Wall, chairwoman of the New Play for Magor and Undy committee, said the project to redevelop the play-area has been a "real community effort," with fund-raising efforts helped by many donations from local firms as well as children themselves.

She said two years ago a group of mothers asked the local community council to improve the play park but the council came back saying it couldn't afford it.

She said: "We then decided to do something ourselves, Our initial target was to raise £10,000 but because we didn't realise how much the equipment cost we had to readjust and raise £20,000."

Mrs Wall said the fund-raising target was reached last July, just over 12 months after fund raising started, thanks to a grant of £10,000 from Monmouth-shire county council. In September the committee took their plans, which detailed the equipment to be bought, to the community council - which approved them.

Mrs Wall, of Whitehall Road, Undy, said: "We have installed a slide, roundabout and a wooden adventure trail and a contained low level piece of equipment along the same lines for pre school age children. There's now something for little children and the more adventurous. We hope more children will now use the park."

*PICTURED: Sara Wall with daughter Katy.