A village pond has been transformed from a dead, silted up, leaky eyesore into an eyecatching community attraction.

The recent makeover means the pond's former ugly concrete edges have gone, leaving a clean circular stretch of water with a diversity of plants to provide new habitats for wildlife.

Villagers in Childrey, near Wantage, hope this will include a breeding pair of moorhens, which raised chicks last year.

The project, masterminded by local resident Peter Cook, who moved into a cottage opposite the dying pond in 1999, has proved a huge success with everyone pitching in to revive the flagging feature.

Mr Cook said: "When I moved into the cottage opposite the pond, I noticed a rapid water loss after rain.

"In 2000, I charted rainfall, weather and water levels. When filled, the pond would lose 12 inches of water within a few days.

"In 2004, the parish council took the decision to commission competitive tendering for pond restoration, which revealed a cost well beyond the council's budget.

"Essential grant funding was researched and the Trust for Oxfordshire Environment became our choice. Their administrative officer, Fiona Danks, guided us through the application process, and the trustees awarded us a generous grant of £15,000 last September."

The cash boost came from landfill tax credits, and a consultant from the World Wildlife Trust at Slimbridge, Rob McInnes, won the contract for renewing the pond through his invaluable knowledge of wetland habitats and water fowl.

Mr Cook said: "Last November, a group of villagers organised the 'Childrey Splash', which involved a fund-raising dinner and auction.

"They raised a staggering £13,750, and kindly donated £3,725 to the pond project.

"The Environment Agency donated £500, later matched by Thames Water.

"The cost to the public purse has therefore been much reduced."

Volunteers pruned bushes beside the pond, before contractors moved in to improve access, pump out water and remove the silt to landfill sites because of contaminating oils from surface water run-off.

Mr Cook expressed gratitude to everyone who had helped in the project.

He added: "The pond's clay base has had a hi-tech liner buried in it which expands when wet, making it self-sealing.

"The pond was then landscaped, creating planting areas for wetland species.

"Plants above and below the water will help to keep the water clean, making it more attractive for all."