31090-66LIDDINGTON villagers celebrated the arrival of new play equipment with a picnic.

The Friends of Liddington Playing Fields group has spent £27,000 on toys suitable for young children following a £22,300 lottery grant.

The new equipment includes swings, a slide, a roundabout, a swinger, goalposts and a climbing frame. The old equipment dated back to 1968 and had become unsafe.

Chairman David Hughes said: "It was a lovely afternoon and there was a big turn out.

"All was going well until the last half hour when it started raining.

"Everyone has helped us get the money we needed. We raised funds locally by organising events, and local people gave donations."

As well as al fresco dining, organisers had laid on traditional games such as egg and spoon and sack races.

David added: "We used the same spoons that were used in races in 1968 when play equipment was last installed."

But some teenagers in the village were disappointed that the money wasn't used to fund a skateboard ramp for part of the area.

They collected 90 signatures asking for a small ramp to be included and made a presentation to the parish council at a meeting.

David, at Sunday's picnic, said that when his group did a survey into what equipment to buy, not many children had shown an interest in a skateboard ramp.

He added: "That's why we were so disappointed when the children came to us so late.

"But that doesn't mean we won't be looking into it in the future.

"We could always add more to the play area."