FAMILIES are being encouraged to attend the official opening of a play park.

Children will be able to take up the offer of free painting at the opening of the new play area in James Dunn Park, at Vickerstown, Walney, on Sunday July 9.

The play park was a project of North Walney Tenants and Residents Association and Barrow Borough Council.

The play area was funded through £50,000 from Wren and £3,000 from previous Walney Gala events.

The play park will be officially opened by Margaret Burrow, founder of Barrow and District Disability Association, in appreciation from North Walney Tenants and Residents Association for her work on generating funding for the project.

The event takes place between 1pm and 3pm.

The residents association will be displaying information on how other communities can start a project like this.

The group will also discuss future plans for looking at working towards having facilities in the park for children aged 11 and upwards.

The play area includes a trampoline, slide, roundabout, swings and more inclusive equipment.

Steve Thornton, chairman of the residents association, started looking at creating a new play park three years ago when the old equipment was tired and out-of-date.

Mr Thornton said: “The play area is being very, very well used and children are enjoying it.

“If it was not for Margaret, the play park would not have happened, she did the funding forms.”

Mr Thornton also thanked Katie Millard from the borough council’s parks department and the local authority’s chief executive, Phil Huck, for supporting the project. The park is maintained by the council.