A 'Ground Force' style garden makeover took place last week when a team of warriors in wellies descended on a play area in Strachur to give the valued community space a new lease of life.

The well used play park was in need of a little TLC so a special team of volunteers arrived on Monday to give the park an overhaul to ensure local kids would get full enjoyment from it over the Easter holidays and for years to come.

Led by refurbishment and maintenance firm, Connaught Partnerships Ltd and Argyll Community Housing Association (ACHA), volunteers donated their time and resources free of charge to ensure the work was completed in one day. Wolseley, a leading supplier of building products also provided the team with chips to resurface the play park.

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The volunteers undertook work including painting the swings, chute and round-about, laying chips and repairing and restoring the existing fence. Any litter and rubbish was cleared away and the volunteers also tidied the landscape around the area.

Local families that use the play area also came along to lend their support to the activities and rejuvenate the much loved recreational area.

Laura Johnson, Connaught customer experience manager, said: "We were delighted to undertake this project in Strachur and wanted to make a real difference to the local community by revamping this well used playground.

"We had a great response from other groups in the area volunteering to help out and some local families also came along to show their support; making this a real community initiative."

The committed band of volunteers began work at 8am and continued well into the afternoon. Laura said: "We wanted to make this a fun day for everyone involved; all the volunteers worked exceptionally hard to complete the day but we had plenty of refreshments and the good banter managed to keep everyone going."

Connaught is undertaking essential maintenance and housing repair work in the area.

Margaret MacGregor, Chair of ACHA Bute and Cowal Area Committee, added: "We are pleased to have been involved in the play park makeover and hope that the children in the area enjoy using the playpark."

(GK/JM)