THREE mothers have spent three years raising thousands of pounds to renovate a derelict playground.

The mayor for Brighton and Hove, Dee Simpson, officially opened it on Saturday.

Jayne Van Rensburg from Bevendean, Brighton, found the Farm Green playground, in Taunton Road, in a desperate state when she moved to the area a few years ago.

She said: “It was just so sad to see a spot where children are supposed to be playing look so ruined and miserable.

“Sixty per cent of it was broken.

“I started a petition and another mum joined and another and it just went from there.

“It’s so amazing to see it full of life now.”

The mum-of-two said Brighton and Hove City Council left the playground out during a big refurbishment of others in and around the area.

So she took it upon herself to raise the money with a couple of other mums to bring it back to life.

She said: “The three of us have done many many funding activities such as face painting and clothes sales.”

They then received a big grant from the waste management company, Veolia, bringing the total to £70,000 to complete their project.

Jayne said: “It’s taken three years of hard work and it’s been so lovely seeing it all come together and flourish.

“If anything, this should be a big shout out to get people to get out and help do something for their community because it really pays off as we can see.

“This area of the city doesn’t have much and it’s so great to be able to bring some life into it for children and their families.

Mum-of-three Mitchie Alexander, from Bevendean, helped Jayne in the fundraising.

She said: “It’s be so worthwhile fundraising the money for this for the children, to give them something to enjoy outdoors and something that is physical.

“It about building people’s confidence and showing them that we can all do great things for the community that will help bring people together.”

Dee Simpson attended the event to cut the ribbon to celebrate the official opening of the farm-themed playground.

She said: “It’s the most wonderful development for this area.

“Bevendean is difficult and can be expensive to get to and from if you have to take the bus all the time.

“It also hasn’t got a lot for people to do so this is just a wonderful addition to the community. The parents are going to have great difficulty getting their children home from here although I saw a parent enjoying the slide earlier so perhaps it will be other way around.”