CHILDREN in Winkleigh will be happy to hear that a play area in their village is going to get a £7,200 boost from the National Lottery Awards for All programme.

The money will go towards swings for the sports centre's play area at Winkleigh War Memorial Recreation Field.

Although the play facilities were installed a few years ago, the swing area needed to be upgraded. Two flat seat swings, two cradle swings will be erected together with the latest eco-bark ground covering to replace the old swing pit and chippings.

Brian Holland, a trustee for the Recreation Field, told the Times: 'We are delighted. A lot of people, including Robin Coombes and the committee, have been working for a year to secure this funding.

'There has been much demand in the village for this upgrade of the swing area.

'We are hoping that the new facilities will be installed some time early in the New Year.'

The whole project will cost around £10,000.

As well as the lottery grant, a further £2,000 will come from the Bernard Sunley Charitable Foundation and £250 from TTVS, the Council for Voluntary Service for Torridge District.

Mike Clarke, a spokesman for Awards for All, said: 'The group will the funding to install swing equipment on its playground facility.

'This will bring this community facility in line with current health and safety standards and improve the play environment.'