A NEW play park has opened in Keighley following five years of work by local residents, politicians and organisations.

Families flocked to the revitalised playground off North Dean Road during its official opening.

New play equipment and surfacing has been provided on the site of a rundown old playground near the top of the ‘cat steps’ which link the Braithwaite and Guard House estate with Fell Lane.

The ribbon was cut jointly by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds, and a Keighley girl whose prize-winning picture has been transformed into the park’s welcome sign.

Salihah Mustara, who attends Our Lady of Victories School on West Lane, won a competition among schoolchildren to design the signpost.

The opening featured activities from Bradford Bulls, the Bradford play team and local children’s centres, face painting by local resident Becky Dickson, and food grown by the Cabbage Club at the nearby community allotment.

The play area project was spearheaded by the Braithwaite Improvement Partnership and funded by landfill charity Yorventure.

Keighley town councillor Ian Dermondy, who became involved in the project about a year ago, said: “The old park was falling apart but now it has lovely apparatus – it even has a zip wire. It’s nice to see a park that’s going to be used by all the children in the coming years.”