CHILDREN are celebrating as the second phase of a £300,000 project to transform their recreation ground comes to a close.

A celebration to mark the official opening of the new facilities in Barnton takes place next week.

Village youngsters have already benefited from a state-of-the-art skate park, basketball area, teen shelter and wildlife area during stage one of work.

Now work on facilities as part of the second stage has been completed. It has seen the existing football pitch improved and a brand new toddler and junior play area consisting of multi-play units, swings, a spacenet, roundabouts, springies and seats installed.

The funding for phase two took over a year to secure, with contributions coming from Biffaward, the Veolia Environmental Trust, Vale Royal's Rural Delivery Programme, Barnton Parish Council, Vale Royal Borough Council, Barclays Stockbrokers Charitable Foundation, Awards for All, Cheshire Rural Trust and Westbury Homes.

Louise Horobin, the project manager for Groundwork Cheshire, said: 'Thanks to many years of dedication to the project by the Nursery Road Recreation Ground Group, the management skills of Groundwork Cheshire and the generosity of funders, Barnton now has a modern and well equipped recreation ground that offers something for the whole community.'