A LONG-AWAITED play park has opened its doors to youngsters in Lyme Regis - providing a 'facility the town can be proud of'.

The Anning Road play park opened to the public on Saturday (3), with Lyme Regis Mayor Cllr Owen Lovell cutting the ribbon at the official ceremony.

Work on the Jurassic and pirate-themed park started in mid-August and the opening has been 'eagerly-awaited' by children and parents in the town.

Cllr Lovell said: “It’s been eagerly-awaited and we thank everyone for their patience while the building work has taken place.

“The park looks spectacular and we know local children are very excited to start using it. We hope it will be well used and well looked after for many years to come.”

Lyme Regis Town Council has spent around £100,000 on the project, and used feedback from the public to pick the final design.

Lyme Regis Play Park Fundraising Association contributed £5,400 to the project, Magna Housing Association donated £1,200, Palmers Brewery contributed £600, and the Town Mill Cheesemonger donated £400.

The children wore pirate hats, had their faces painted with eye patches, and gold chocolate coins in their pockets as they explored their new park.

The mayor announced St Michael's School pupils, Leigh Watts and Finlay Crossley, as winners of a drawing competition. The two helped Cllr Lovell cut the ribbon and enjoyed two minutes in the park before being joined by the eager crowd of youngsters.

Emma Blackmore, chairman of the fundraising association, said: “I’m so pleased to see the kids having so much fun.

"The public made a good choice when they voted for this park. Hopefully the children will appreciate it, enjoy it and look after it.

“Thank you to the fundraising committee for all their hard work and help, and to Cheryl Reynolds.”

The park has been designed by Eibe Play and the Jurassic and pirate-themed equipment includes a galleon, a ‘fallen fossil’, a lookout mound, a zip wire, and a pterodactyl nest.

The facilities are designed for children of all ages and all physical abilities.

Cllr Cheryl Reynolds, who is also chairman of the Lyme Regis Play Park Fundraising Association, said: “It’s been so exciting watching the park come together, seeing the pirate ship taking shape and the fallen fossil being constructed.

“I’m so pleased with what the council and community has achieved, and in a relatively short time. Local people told us the park wasn’t up to standard, we listened and we did something about it.

“Now I think we have a facility the town can be proud of and that children can use to learn and develop in.”