TEDDINGTON mums have nearly raised a staggering £100,000 to renovate the rundown playground off the High Street.

A group called the 'Friends of Vicarage Road Play Park' was created a year ago when resident Annie Chapman became fed up of the lack of facilities for children in Teddington.

She was not alone and soon found an abundance of support within the community. A target was set to find £100,000 to re-landscape the site and create a fantastic state-of-the-art playground.

After a year of campaigning they are delighted to hear that the environmental charity Living Spaces will contribute £35,000. So far they have raised £3,500 through local donations and street collections and Richmond upon Thames Council have agreed to match any funds raised up to £50,000. Therefore, they only need another £11,500 to reach the £100,000 target.

Caroline Sayer, one of the many mums involved, said: "You could of course do something with less money, but this is space in the heart of Teddington and being so wasted. It's been terribly underused and just has a few bits of run down equipment; we now want to make it really nice, by re-landscaping and adding things like nice benches."

The chosen equipment includes spinning bowls, hammocks, leap-frog pillars, triple seesaws and slides with additional features such as a climbing frame with binoculars at the top of a viewing platform. It will be imaginative and stimulating for children aged two to 12 and those suffering reduced mobility will find additional hand grips and easy access.

Despite having initiated the project, Annie won't benefit from the play area as she and her family have recently moved to Hampshire. "But I still want to see the fund raising through; this is something the Teddington community desperately needs. And we want it to be for everybody."

The Friends are planning a summer fair in the Vicarage Road park on Saturday, July 17, as well as other events such as a sponsored 'Toddle Waddle', to raise the final amounts needed to start the project. And they will soon be inviting local people, particularly children to contribute with the design of the play area.

Contact them at PO Box 355, Teddington, TW11 0WF or email playpark@tiscali.co.uk and visit the website at www.playpark.org.uk END