VILLAGERS are throwing a party to mark the re-opening of their children's playground.
A band will play when celebrations are held in Marsden tomorrow.
Organisers are staging the event after a four-year fight over the playground at the village's Mount Road.
It was closed as a safety measure by Kirklees Council after the state of the equipment got worse.
Council chiefs couldn't promise when repairs would be made - so villagers set about raising cash themselves.
The result is a play area with gleaming new slides, two climbing frames, a roundabout and swings.
Brian Boothroyd, secretary of the fundraising committee, said: "It's taken us a while, but we've finally done it.
"We just couldn't let the playground stay shut."
Everyone in the village is being urged to join in at the official opening at 3pm tomorrow.
Marsden Junior Band will play and then villagers will be invited up to the nearby tennis club for "nibbles".
Mr Boothroyd said: "We want to make it an occasion.
"The playground was sorely missed and is really well-used now that it's open again."
People in Marsden chipped in with £4,000 and the council came up with the rest of the cash.
For that, they have got a playground much better than if it had been left to the council alone to do the work.
One donation came from the Cuckoo's Nest community shop in Marsden.
Other groups also contributed and collecting tins were put in shops and pubs.
