Plans for a new playground in Cononley have received a £49,000 boost from the Government.

The play area on Cononley Playing Field is part of a wider refurbishment of the whole site.

The new grant, through the National Playbuilder programme, adds to money raised from other sources. It is part of a Playbuilder package just announced, totalling £1.13 million for 18 playgrounds across North Yorkshire.

A county council spokesman said the aim was to provide “accessible, safe and stimulating” facilities in Cononley.

He said: “We hope to create a play space that combines innovative landscaping, new challenging play equipment and the charming existing environment.”

Cononley Playing Fields Committee is spearheading a £124,000 project to upgrade the play equipment.

Much of the existing equipment is more than 40 years old and struggles to meet modern safety standards.

The county council’s area committee recently gave £800 towards the project. The successful bid for Playbuilder funding follows a year of work by the county council.