CHIPPENHAM NEWS: FOUR decades after residents called for a new playground in Lacock it has finally opened to children.

Corsham Road resident Betty Gatley first tried to get the play area set up about 40 years ago.

After the hard work of the Corsham Road residents' association, the ribbon around a new slide was cut by MP James Gray on Saturday, when he officially opened the playground. As well as a slide there are swings for the children to play on.

North Wiltshire District Councillor Dick Tonge said: "There were hordes of children enjoying themselves. It is really good seeing it open at long last and it is going to be a great asset for the children in the community."

He said the area really needed a playground because there had never been one in Lacock to the west of the A350.

When the residents association was set up it spurred the district council and Westlea Housing Association into action.

Cllr Tonge said: "The residents' association was set up which put a bit more muscle behind the process."

Half the funding was secured from Westlea Housing Association, which also designed the play area.

The district council then provided the remaining funds, working with Chris Doel, chairman of Lacock Parish Council.

Linda Gainey, a member of the Corsham Road Residents' Association, said: "It goes to show if you keep on long enough things can happen."