Work on a 'much-needed' play park for children living in a village is under way.

Eastern Daily Press: The park before work began. Photo: Earsham Playing Field CommitteeThe park before work began. Photo: Earsham Playing Field Committee (Image: Archant)

The Earsham Park project, situated just off The Street in Earsham, is predicted to be finished by July 2017.

Funding for the project is coming from a £41,700 grant courtesy of WREN, as part of its FCC Community Action Fund.

Rachel Gunton, chairman of Earsham Playing Fields Committee, said: 'It's great to see our vision for this vital community facility moving closer to reality. We are extremely grateful for the funding WREN has given us and we're looking forward to opening to the public.'

Previously people in the community were forced to visit parks outside the village due to the poor condition of their own facility.

Eastern Daily Press: A newly resurrected slide at Earsham play park. Photo: Earsham Playing Field CommitteeA newly resurrected slide at Earsham play park. Photo: Earsham Playing Field Committee (Image: Archant)

Mrs Gunton said she shared a sense of achievement with her husband knowing their children are aware they played a role in renovating the park for the community.

She said: 'We have spent seven years fundraising for this project and have been working with the support of Earsham Parish Council to obtain funding.'

WREN grant manager Ben Walker said:'We're delighted to be supporting such a worthwhile project and look forward to seeing the complete play facility benefitting youngsters and their families in Earsham and the surrounding villages.'

A zip wire, a spider net and sets of swings are among the new pieces to be added to the land - with a slide, ship and bandstand already constructed.

WREN is a not-for-profit business that awards grants for community, conservation and heritage projects from funds donated by FCC Environment through the Landfill Communities Fund.

The business has granted over £200m to more than 7,000 projects since 1998 which benefit people living within 10 miles of a FCC Environment landfill site.

Earsham Playing Field's Committee have been fundraising for new equipment for the park for nearly a decade. Events, such as the annual Earsham Village Yard Sale and Car Boot had been the main source of the funding.

This year's event is scheduled to take place on August 12.

Funds raised at this will go towards the future maintenance of the park.