IT IS A campaign that's taken ten years to achieve its goal.

But now dozens of youngsters in Southampton are finally able to enjoy a new play area after a successful fundraising campaign.

The opening of the Freemantle Common play area is the culmination of the campaign that has seen more than £60,000 raised for new climbing frames, swings and a trampoline.

Cathy Stevens used to use a play area on the common as a child growing up in Peartree, before the swings, slide and roundabout were vandalised and then removed over the years.

She left Southampton but then returned to her home city when she was raising her own children, but by then there was nothing on the Common for them to play on.

She said: "When you have young children, you are at home a lot.

"I was a stay at home mother. You end up forming your own community, with other mothers of young children and I thought it was a shame that there was no play area for us to go within walking distance of our homes. We used to meet up with other young families, but it was always on Southampton Common or at Riverside Park.

"I never wanted to be one of those people who complain about things and never do anything and that is why I started my campaign. I thought it would be simpler than it was, it seemed so obvious to reinstate the play equipment there."

It took ten years to raise the money needed to fund the new equipment, while it also required official approval from the Secretary of State to build the play area on common land.

Some of the money came from fundraising activities, while the majority came from council funding and contributions by developers building in the area.

By the time the campaign was nearing its completion she had moved out of the city, to East Dorset, but added: "I still have a lot of connections with Southampton and having had so much support for the play area, I did not really want to give up on it.

"I was also aware that I was asking a lot of people to take up where I had left off.

One of the councillors, Eamonn Keogh said: "The play area is the result of local residents, and councillors past and present working together to ensure that children in Peartree have a fantastic play area to enjoy for years to come.

"It is hoped to set up a Friends of Freemantle Common to help maintain the play area and protect this precious green space."

He also praised other residents such as Sammie Jade and council officers such as Tony Hill for their efforts in making the plans happen.

Now the new play area has been officially opened and is set to be enjoyed by dozens of youngsters.