High Peak Mayor Cllr Robin Baldry cut the ribbon at the new play area, off Charlesworth Crescent, on Tuesday afternoon. New facilities on offer include climbing units, cradle swings, a see saw and a basket swing.

The work, which is part of a wider scheme to improve play areas across the borough, was organised by High Peak Borough Council and financed by a grant from the Big Lottery Fund.

Cllr Baldry said: "The funding award follows the development of the Council's play strategy, Playtime in the Peak, which identified priorities for improvement and builds upon the £435,000 modernisation of play areas across the borough carried out over the past two years.

"The work to the play area and the sports courts is really fantastic, providing more challenging and exciting play equipment, and I would particularly like to thank the children of Furness Vale Primary School for helping to design this play area."

Other sites earmarked for improvement include Ashwood Park, Brown Edge Road and Harpur Hill in Buxton, Newshaw Lane and Bankswood Park in Hadfield as well as other sites in the parishes.

Work on two of the projects, at Bankswood and Newshaw Lane is due to start next week.