by David MartinA VILLAGE playground is being transformed thanks to the fundraising work of concerned mums.

More than £30,000 was raised in just 18 months by a committee of parents in Home-on-Spalding Moor, who were fed up with the state of their village play area.

Work on refurbishing the playground has now begun, after campaigners PATCH (Playcorner AcTion Committee in Holme) reached their target.

They received a £12,300 grant from the National Lottery and £7,000 from environmental body Enventure Northern to help them achieve their aim.

Phase One of the new playground is now complete, with an adventure trail, new junior swings, and a wooden tractor and trailer being installed, despite last week's rain.

The next step, which includes a climbing net and fireman's pole, plus a big new slide, should be finished by May 8.

New log cabins, litter bins and picnic benches will also be installed before the playground's official re-opening on May 31.

PATCH secretary Karen Chesmore said: "We felt the facilities in the play area badly needed improving and as the Playing Fields Association didn't have the funds to spend, we decided to form our own fundraising committee. Some parents were worried about letting their young children play on it. I know of two children who got themselves trapped in the roundabout."

PATCH chairwoman Claire Rhodes said: "We formed PATCH because we wanted to do something about it."

Events organised by the committee ranged from a sponsored slim, dances and raffles to the children playing their part with sponsored runs and toy sales.

Karen Chesmore said: "The whole village has got behind us, but without the huge boost from the Lottery and the contribution from Enventure Northern, we would still be raising funds."

Other contributions to the Holme playground came from Express Dairies Ingredients, The National Grid, The Norman Collinson Trust and the JC Boaz Trust.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.