A PLAY area designed by children from three schools in Hildenborough was officially opened in the village last Friday.

The West Wood play area, the equipment at which pupils from Stocks Green, Hildenborough CofE and Fosse Bank primary schools helped choose, was opened by the mayor Cllr Chris Smith.

Terry Barton, the chairman of the village's parish council, which organised the project, said: ""We are pleased we have been able to improve the play area, and owe thanks to all involved from survey to build."

The project saw the children consulted on what kinds of equipment they wanted at the site by the parish council, in line with its specifications.

They told the council that it was important to them that it be environmentally friendly and fit in with the woodland environment.

The equipment chosen was made predominantly from recycled materials and the colours were picked to match surrounding foliage, buttercups and trees. Funding for the scheme was secured by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council under a lottery initiative.

"We all had fun designing the play area," Hannah Batchelor, one of the pupils involved, said after seeing it complete for the first time. "It has turned out better than we imagined."