A NEW children's park in Greenmount village will officially open to families as part of an annual summer party next month.

The Mayor of Bury, Councillor Dorothy Gunther, will formerly open the playground on Monday, May 7, to coincide with Greenmount Village Party.

With a budget of £112,000, new swings, slides, see-saws and other play equipment have been installed at the site off Brandlesholme Road, with plans for further development still under way.

Alistair Waddell, chairman of Greenmount Village Community, said: "We wanted to ensure that everything was finished at the park in time for the beer festival this weekend — that has been our driving force. We are on target to open it to families.

"However the official opening will take place at our village party, which this year coincides with the 150th anniversaries of Greenmount Cricket Club and Greenmount United Reformed Church."

New benches have been installed at the park as well as a flagpole.

Gate entrances and final touches to the play area are still to be completed.

The long-term plan is to have wild flowers planted between the play area and the field.

The community group has just received 120 plug plants that will be used for this purpose.

Willow objects are also being designed to adorn the park and a path will eventually be built around its circumference.

Residents are invited to the village party between 1.30pm and 4.30pm, with the main activities taking place at the cricket club.

Around 20 stalls will line Brandlesholme Road, between the entrance to Greenmount Cricket Club and Beech Grove.