LOCAL schoolchildren have been invited to the grand opening of a new £45,000 play area for Calne on Tuesday October 24.

The site for the play area at Duncan Street, within the Knightstone Housing Association development, was earmarked by North Wiltshire District Council in 1998 when it set aside £30,000 for the facility.

Persimmon Homes, the developer building hundreds of houses in northern Calne, has contributed £10,000 and Calne Town Council gave £5,000 towards play equipment.

Ward councillors sought the views of local residents and children on what they would like to see in the play area.

The present plan put forward for the area includes a special under-fives area and a five-a-side football field. The town council adopted Duncan Street Play Area in May.

Liz Watkins, chairman of the town council's amenities committee said she was delighted to see the legalities completed and looked forward to the official opening.

She said the playground was very necessary as there were no other play facilities in the immediate area.

"We are very conscious of the fact that we haven't got enough play and leisure facilities. There wasn't very much in that end of town and the housing development is growing."

The official opening will be attended by North Wiltshire District Council chairman Lynda Barber, Calne Mayor Eric Porter and David Thornton of Persimmon Homes.