A NEW children's play area is to open in Cowpe thanks to a massive fund-raising effort by local residents.

Three years ago the park faced the threat of closure because Rossendale Council could not afford to maintain it or make the improvements needed to make the play area safe.

Residents in the village formed a committee to save the park and have worked hard for three years to raise £72,000 for new play equipment.

They raised £4,000 through events including sponsored walks, raffles and running stalls at local events - they even had a whip round in the village.

And, with the help of Groundwork Rossendale, the committee made bids to various funding bodies for grants.

The committee received £34,500 from the Lancashire Environment Fund, £25,000 in landfill tax credit from Shanks landfill site, £10,000 from Lancashire County Council's Small Sites Fund and £500 each from Rossendale Mayor's Fund and the borough council's Community Chest.

Mum-of-three Vanessa Mason, the committee secretary, said: "It has been three years of hard work. It has been a very slow and sometimes soul-destroying process, which has come together only through pure perseverance and patience."

Committee members and volunteers spent a few hours at the weekend tidying up the park and planting bulbs in preparation for the grand opening on Saturday.

Vanessa, 33, of Cowpe Road, who works as an IT manager, said: "All the play equipment is made out of recycled and recyclable materials, such as timber and tyres. There is also a big decorative stone there with a design on that was created by children at the local school."

Rossendale Mayor, Councillor Eileen Kershaw, will cut the ribbon at the playground on Saturday at 1.45pm.