COUNCIL chiefs are celebrating an £86,000 windfall that will enable them to transform a children’s play area on a New Forest estate.

Lymington and Pennington Town Council has received £21,108 from the Veolia Environmental Trust and £65,000 from the district council.

The money will fund the construction of a new play area for children living on the Howards Mead estate at Pennington.

Existing equipment will be ripped out and replaced with modern facilities, including seats, a kick-about zone and a special area for toddlers.

The mayor, Councillor Jacqui England, said: “It’s amazing that the trust has awarded this grant and we look forward to working with them to develop a scheme that will result in the best for Howards Mead and its younger residents.

“This generous funding means the council will be able to provide a kick-about area for young teens and a sitting area for adults.

“This will be a project for the community of which we’ll all be extremely proud.”

Civic leaders are also celebrating a £50,000 grant from the Sport England Inspire Fund. The money will enable the council to extend a sports pavilion to benefit tennis players and a bowls club.