The £80,000 play area in Somerville Way was vandalised on October 29 and AVDC engineers have repaired the damage so it can be opened as planned.

Pupils from Bearbrook School are to be the first to put a new and exciting Aylesbury play area through its paces.

Around 50 youngsters will join local dignitaries at the official opening of the £80,000 facility, in Prebendal Farm.

Aylesbury Vale District Council encouraged children from Bearbrook School and local residents to have their say about which equipment they wanted in the eagerly awaited playground situated in Somerville Way.

Equipment in the new play area, which caters for two to 12 year-olds, includes toddler and junior swings, a see-saw, a roundabout and multi-play climbing units.

The Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust contributed £20,000 to the playground and £60,000 came from the Big Lottery Fund. Further cash injections from the Trust and the Big Lottery Fund will also be used to fund new play areas at Edinburgh Playing Fields and Carlton Close in Aylesbury.

Cllr David Thompson, AVDC Cabinet Member for Leisure, said: "It is wonderful that we have been able to provide this invaluable play area for children in Prebendal Farm. Putting the needs of our residents first, careful thought has gone in to the design of the play equipment so that it is available to as many young people as possible. I really hope that youngsters in the area will have a lot of fun here."

Matthew Applegate, Chief Executive of Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust, said: "The Trust is proud that we can support this, and the other exciting play grounds around the area. Working together in partnership for the benefit of all sections of our communities, is central to all that we do. I hope that everyone, children and parents, have fun in the playground for many years to come."