CHILDREN tried out their brand new village playground at the weekend.

Deputy mayor Andrew Palfreeman officially opened the Fieldhead Play Area on Upper Clough Road in Linthwaite on Saturday.

The play area is one of 27 being created in Kirklees as part of a government-funded scheme to make children’s play more challenging.

The special attraction at the Linthwaite play area is a spiral earth mound surrounded by a moat.

Clr Palfreeman said: “The playground cost £33,000. I think it was all worthwhile and the children will enjoy it for many years to come.”

The Kirklees scheme, being led by the council’s Children and Young People Service in association with Culture and Leisure Services, was awarded £2.5m under the Department of Children, Schools and Families’ Play Pathfinder project.

As well as 27 new play areas in Kirklees, the funding has also gone towards two adventure playgrounds.

Cliffe House Education and Training Centre in Shepley has already opened its adventure playground and another will open in Crow Nest Park in Dewsbury later this year.