A THREE-year long project to rejuvenate a village play area - which will celebrate the community's Roman links - is nearing completion of its first phase.

And mother of two Sarah Pawson who has been one of a group of Gargrave mums spearheading the project has called it "the hardest thing we've ever done, but the most rewarding."

"So far our project has cost around £45,000, and we need to raise a further £45,000 for phase two - another challenge," she said.

The first phase has seen work on a castle styled climbing frame, a controlled round about, tube talks, a multiplay unit and spin and hang equipment.

New metal swings are included along with two benches, donated by Skipton Rotary club.

"We already have some applications being processed and we are working hard on the final big ones which are for the four metre summit net and a zip wire.

" We can only stay positive and fingers crossed we will get it. If we do then we have done it and given the kids and the families what they want for our village," she said.

The equipment for phase two would include a surf slide, a horse rocker and tight rope walk, a double perch, funded by the North Yorkshire Police Commissioner, a trampoline, rodeo board, a summit net and a cable way.

It has been designed and provided by Proludic and Pennine Playgrounds have done the installation, she said.

Sarah has paid special thanks to the Craven companies who have helped bring the project to fruition including Mark Woods of Green-Tech landscaping who provided top soil and turf, the Roger Stott foundation, Gargrave Co-op and RWS Groundwork of Cononley.