GREENMOUNT’S new village playground was unveiled in a ceremony attended by the Mayor of Bury and dozens of families.

The green space beside Greenmount Cricket Club now has an upgraded children’s play area and park.

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.

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

The Mayor said: “I want to congratulate everyone involved with this project. I’m so proud of the whole community.

“As the Mayor I get to see many great things. But this is one of the highlights.”

The village party coincided with the 150th anniversaries of Greenmount Cricket Club and Greenmount United Reformed Church.

Dozens of families made the most of the sunshine and enjoyed a range of different activities at the event.

Fun fair rides, pop-up stalls and ice cream vans lined the road between the entrance of the cricket club and Beech Grove.

The community scheme was first announced in February, when hundreds of residents turned up to the monthly Greenmount Village Community (GVC) to discuss the plans.

A grant of £49,999.13 from Viridor Credits, a £8,000 donation from Tesco and funding from Bury Council have all contributed towards the new development.

Fundraisers within the local community have also donated funds and equipment to the GVC.

Alistair Waddell, chairman of Greenmount Village Community, said: “I want to thank thousands of people for their help with this project.

“Every customer in Tesco stores in Bury could vote using a blue chip to pledge support for the project.

“I’m now so proud to stand here today and say that the playground has passed a full inspection.”

Plans are now in place to build a natural play area out of willow structures to make the green visually appealing.

The GVC also plan to build a pond, a family picnic area and a path around the circumference of the green.