BRENDA Horwood remembers her favourite playground from when she was six years old in 1928.

More than 80 years on, she revisited the play area, in Hinksey Park, off Abingdon Road, South Oxford, to officially reopen it after a £130,000 refurbishment by Oxford City Council.

The play area was officially opened on Saturday to coincide with the opening for the summer season of the city’s open-air swimming pool.

Mrs Horwood, 88, of Marlborough Road, Grandpont, said after cutting the ribbon: “I can remember the playground when I was first came here at the age of six and I really enjoyed playing there.

“A little girl has just come up to me to say how much she enjoys playing there and I hope the children look after the new equipment.”

Mrs Horwood is president of the South Oxford Community Centre, in Lake Street.

The play area now features a climbing unit with tunnel slide and a new sand pit with a beached pirate ship.

Some of the existing equipment has been repositioned including the toddler swings.

Stuart Fitzsimmons, the council’s parks and open spaces manager, said: “The new play area looks fantastic and there is plenty for young people to enjoy.

“There’s a new set of swings, basket swing and toddler multi-climber and slide.

“We’ve also kept in some old equipment including the toddler swings, as they’re very popular.”

The play area was designed following several months of consultation with community groups including children and parents who regularly use the area.

New paths have been added to improve access and new picnic tables are due to be added.

The refurbishment took four weeks. It is the 30th play area to be refurbished under the council’s £2.5m refurbishment programme.

The work was carried out by Groundwork Thames Valley, which is managing the programme for the council.

For full details of the play areas improvement programme, see oxford.gov.uk/playarea refurbishment