Helpers build play area from scratch

That’s the view of a volunteer who has been helping to reassemble a second-hand adventure playground.

The impressive structure, at the Aln Valley Railway’s Lionheart Station, in Alnwick, boasts a slide, fireman’s pole, climbing net and wobbly plank bridge.

The group of helpers have been working hard to finish the project and it will be open later this month.

Ron Bernstein said: “We want to further engage our visitors and give the kids something to occupy themselves while waiting for a train and we trust all our efforts will soon be rewarded by the happy sounds of children, up to 11, having a great deal of fun.

“Last year, during my regular trawl of the secondhand/charity shops in Newcastle, my partner and I came across what was instantly recognisable as a partially dismantled wooden/metal/plastic public, professionally manufactured adventure playground structure, complete with its encircling fencing, for sale.

“I put forward the idea of purchase to the railway and, very gratefully, a private benefactor donated the money to buy the goods.

“The structure had come from Newcastle’s Three Mile Inn and there was an identical structure at a pub in Cullercoats, so my partner and I went to that venue and photographed the structure from every angle to obtain the pictures to aid construction.

“A small team of willing helpers enthusiastically got to grips with the reassembly, fencing and landscaping.”

Children will be able to use the playground from Saturday, May 19. A grand opening ceremony will be staged on Sunday, June 24.