CHILDREN and their parents are hoping to win some cash to revitalise their community playground.

The Purleigh Community Fund group is appealing for votes to receive £5,000 from the Calor Gas Community Fund.

The money will be used to install a new tunnel mound at Purleigh Playground in Howe Green Road.

Previous equipment has been vandalised which resulted in the area having to be closed off.

Leah Jewiss, from the Purleigh Community Fund, said the group plans to improve community life for all generations in the village.

She said: “Many pieces of equipment have been removed and the playground is unappealing and does not cater for all age groups.

“We want to create a revitalised play area at the heart of this community space.

“This project specifically will enable the addition of a tunnel mound for children to climb up and over, and crawl through, providing them with opportunities for imaginative play.

“By improving the playground we will entice more children to play outdoors and attract more people to the village.”

The group said the full installation will cost a total of £7,300, with the shortfall being covered by existing funds they already have.

The funding will not only pay for the new tunnel mound, it will also pay for the refurbishment of the “dilapidated” area, and for brand new safety flooring for the children surrounding the new equipment.

The group held a large consultation in the area before drawing up plans.

Leah said: “We have had a high level of engagement and response from the community with our research and consultations, to determine the needs of the community.

“We held an assembly at Purleigh Primary School and classroom consultations to find the children’s top choices for new equipment to install.

“The village shop and parish pubs have all been supportive with helping us distribute community surveys, as well as selling tickets to our fundraising events.”

At the time of writing the appeal has 1,100 votes in support.

To show your support, go to calor.co.uk/communityfund.