People power meant a new children’s playground was finally unveiled after a community campaign.

The new play area was unveiled at the Millwood Centre behind Circus Street over the weekend after residents worked with local environmental charity Groundwork South to secure funding for a new community space.

The playground features swings – including a basket swing suitable for children with disabilities – spinning bowls, a climbing frame, boulders, and balancing logs.

Groundwork South managed to triple the community's funding and the next stage for them will be to create a new mural for the back of the play area. 

Tommy Tickle, chairman of the Millwood and Milner Residents Association, said: “We want to thank our neighbours and the many organisations who have helped us raise funds and made it possible to improve our outside space in this area of Brighton – it is stunning.”

The project to install the playground cost in the region of £67,000 of which £39,968 worth of funding was secured by Groundwork South to install the equipment through The Veolia Environmental Trust. 

Other sources of funding came from organisations such as the Landfill Communities Fund, Circus Street developers Cathedral Group who supplied £15,000, Puffins Nursery, Brighton and Hove City Council and Millwood and Milner Residents Association.

Paul Taylor, executive director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, said: “It is great to hear that this community-led project is now complete and that everyone had loads of fun on Saturday.

“Play areas provide vital space where children and young people can meet up, exercise, make new friends and let their imaginations run wild and it is one of [our] priorities to support.”

A brightly coloured, patterned play surface has also been laid along with new fencing.

During term time, part of the play area will be used from 9am until 3pm by children attending the Puffins Nursery but the playground will be open to all from 3pm onwards and during holidays and weekends.

At the unveiling on Saturday the residents enjoyed a community fun day as they enjoyed a free barbecue, cakes and canapés supplied by The Real Junk Food Project, and the children got to have a go at strawberry planting.

Councillor Adrian Morris was on hand to do the honours and the cut the ribbon.

Karen McCormick, development manager for Cathedral Group, said: “We are delighted that this project has come to fruition so successfully and look forward to working with the local community over the coming months and years as we regenerate the area and build a new community garden along Carlton Row.”