Children should have a cheerful place to play this summer in Prestwood thanks to the fundraising of a parents' group writes Neil Phillips.

Work starts on the Common play- ground revamp in June, and hopes are high that work will finish in time for the school holidays.

Claire Moore lives in the village and chaired the group during its 18-month campaign. She said: "We hope the playground will help to bring the community together."

The Play in Prestwood group formed in October 2005, with eight members, when it became clear that children weren't using the ageing playground.

Mrs Moore, 36, has two children - Billy, 11, at Prestwood Junior School, Clare Road and Harry, five, at Prest- wood Infants in Moat Lane.

She said: "We started by finding out what people felt about the local playground, and we asked local school- children what they would like. Mostly people were saying that they didn't use it and went to surrounding villages instead, to use their play areas. Or they thought it was totally inadequate for six to 12-year-olds. It was a real shame. Only last Sunday I was at a playground in Amersham and it was packed. I came back to Prestwood and ours was empty. It just demonstrates how underused it is, especially considering we're a big village."

But even though the revamp was set to cost more than £90,000, The Play in Prestwood group ambitiously aimed to complete its project by the summer.

It received a range of contributions from the parish council, Great Missenden Rotary Club, Misbourne School and various other organ- isations and individuals.

But the £50,000 contribution that sent them soaring to their target came from the Biffa landfill tax scheme, which provides funds that would have been paid in tax to local environmental or community projects.

The revamped play area will include two climbing stations, swings, spin- ners, springers, a roundabout and new seating and some new equipment for older children.

Mrs Moore, who is married to Steve and works at Prestwood School as a learning support assistant, said: "We always knew we would get there but it was just a question of when. People were amazed at what we did in the timescale. It's been an interesting couple of years for all of us. And the thanks we're getting from local people - they congratulate us on the way to school. "