SUNBEAMS preschool in North Thoresby has a new £10,000 outdoor play area and a selection of new play equipment thanks to grant funding from East Lindsey District Council and Children’s Links.

The play area includes a soft-surface area, playground markings including a road with zebra crossings and an alphabet caterpillar, play panels, garden planters and is surrounded by secure fencing. A sail-shade canopy is also to be erected shortly.

The District Council provided £5,000 from its community grant budget to support the initiative. Ward Councillor, Doreen Stephenson, also gave the preschool an additional £400 from her personal community grant fund to buy new indoor play equipment. Children’s Links also gave £5,000 to support the scheme.

Councillor Stephenson, said: "Sunbeams provides an important service to the local community. It is vital that we support preschools like Sunbeams to help our children learn and have fun. This ensures they are in the best possible position once they start school."

Chairman of Sunbeams, Andrew Meik, said that the completion of the play area was a great milestone to have reached: "We would like to thank both the East Lindsey District Council and Children’s Links for their financial support in achieving this goal. We provide an important childcare facility for all the surrounding villages where both parents and children feel comfortable. We hope that the children in our care leave as happy, self-confident individuals with a strong foundation for beginning school."

The Chairman of East Lindsey District Council, Councillor Robert Palmer, officially opened the new facility.