A project delivering a much-needed play area for children has been given a boost by a grant of just over £30,000.

The Vicarage Lane Play Park group has been awarded £30,164 by the Veolia Environmental Trust for the facility, which is being built in Benton Road, Seven Kings.

The money will be spent on work to lay new paths, install play and exercise equipment and plant trees.

Roger Backhouse, the group’s secretary, said: “This grant will enable us to make further improvements that will benefit everyone.

“Especially children and young people, who will be able to enjoy play and exercise near their homes.”

The play area has been in the making for seven years.

Members of the Vicarage Lane group were only able to commence work in June this year, after raising £250,000 through fundraising and support from Redbridge Council, Vision Redbridge Culture and Leisure and Sport England.

The first phase of the scheme involved the creation of a small car park and a floodlit multi-use games area, which will be used for sports such as football, netball and basketball.

Access to the site has also been improved.

The upcoming work will be the final phase of the project.

Mr Backhouse previously told the Recorder that the facility would be of great benefit to local youngsters.

He said: “So far the children have been very enthusiastic about it. There are a lot of flats around and the area is very short of play space.”

Paul Taylor, the executive director of the Veolia Environmental Trust, said he would like to congratulate the group for securing the grant.

He added: “I look forward to seeing the work start.”

A spokesman for the trust said it would now begin finalising the details of the project, including its start date, so work can begin as soon as possible.