Dedicated members of the North Featherstone and Ackton Community Forum, which formed last summer, helped secure £50,000 to revamp a run-down play area for youngsters on fields off Ackton Lane.

Forum chairman Sandeep Singh, sub-postmaster at North Featherstone post office, added: "It's great for local young people.

"This is a long overdue development for the area – Ackton is like one of the forgotten lands."

Mum-of-three Louise Farrar added: "I think this is brilliant news. There is nothing for children at all in the area, all we have are these fields with neglected and vandalised play facilities."

Wakefield Council will mostly pay for the scheme through the government's Playbuilder Fund, which will give the authority £1 million to create or refurbish 22 play areas.

Mum Karen Quigley said: "The design will hopefully be in keeping with the environment and low impact.

"When we set up the forum last July changing this park was a priority and Featherstone councillor Kay Binnersley also took it up as an urgent matter."

Coun Binnersley paid tribute to the group members for their tireless work.

She added: "You can see the state of this park and it's been like this for years, it's never had any investment.

"To secure a revamp is a top achievement for the community and the people involved. It's been 12 months in the planning and parents have worked closely with the council's parks team.

"That's a long time not to see a result but they've stuck at it until the end – I'm thrilled we are getting a new park."

Coun Pat Garbutt, council cabinet member for children and young people, said: "The Playbuilder project is in its early stages but plans are progressing well.

"Designs are still being drawn up prior to work beginning by the end of the year to create new play areas.

"They will be an innovative mix of play equipment and landscaped environmental design for young people to enjoy for years to come."