A north Norfolk community came together this week to celebrate the first of a three-phase project aimed at providing all ages with outdoor activities.Grandma and champion fund-raiser Edna Woolsey cut a ribbon officially opening nearly �25,000-worth of under-8s' equipment installed on Stalham Recreation Ground.

A north Norfolk community came together this week to celebrate the first of a three-phase project aimed at providing all ages with outdoor activities.

Grandma and champion fund-raiser Edna Woolsey cut a ribbon officially opening nearly �25,000-worth of under-8s' equipment installed on Stalham Recreation Ground.

A lucky group of Stalham Infant School pupils were let out of Monday morning lessons to attend the ceremony - and give the new rides a test drive.

Mrs Woolsey, 76, her husband Bill, 81, and a team of supporters have so far raised over �50,000 in less than a year towards equipment for all the town's youngsters.

Their efforts, raised through the sale of donated goods in a shop run by the team on Upper Staithe Road, are likely to cover about half the total cost of improvements to the recreation ground, according to town council chairman Tony Ross-Benham.

Other funds have come from the town council, grants and Section 106 money - paid to North Norfolk District Council by developers to improve open spaces in Stalham, as a condition of approval for certain schemes.

Phase two will see equipment installed for older children, including up to three pieces of outside gym equipment for all ages. And in the final phase a BMX track will be built with the possible addition of an extra piece of equipment on the recreation ground skatepark. The town council has already applied for �50,000 from the national Playbuilder scheme towards its cost.

Mr Ross-Benham paid tribute to the “extraordinary” efforts of the Woolseys, their son Roy, and the shop volunteers had made the project not only achievable, but in a far shorter time than expected.