TRUE community spirit has given children in Shobdon a brand new place to play.

The new and improved playground was officially opened on Sunday two years after a group of local mums started a petition to improve Shobdon's Bar Meadow.

After knocking on many doors and gaining the support of most of the village, the group took their petition to the parish council to ask for support and more ideas, resulting in the creation of the Playground Working Group.

Since then, an enormous amount of effort has gone into raising money to fund the work through events including bingo nights, the Shobdon stomp, tractor runs and Rat Pack Evenings at the Food and Flying festival.

A Shobdon Parish Council spokesperson said: "Kylie Bowman and Donna Davies have not only led the fundraising of over £12,000 towards the project, but have been tireless in keeping the momentum going and working on the project.

"The Food and Flying festival have been extremely generous with their support, particularly through the Rat Pack evenings, sponsored by Corbett Farms and Cobb Amos.

"Thanks also to the Julia Morris Trust, the Village Trust, KTH, all the organisations who donated prizes for the raffles and bingo nights, and the village shop for their help and support.

"On the basis of this fundraising, the Parish Council was able to apply to the Herefordshire Leader Fund, receiving a grant of £20,088 towards the project.

"Finally, thanks to the Parish Council who have managed the project, coordinated all the work and provided over £13,000 of the funding for it. All the councillors have worked hard on the project, but particular thanks must go to the Chair of the Parish Council, Bill Stokes, for all the work he has put into getting the project realised."