Hellens Contracts has just completed the £260,000 construction of a play facility for Lynnfield School in Hartlepool. Victor Tumilty, local councillor and Lynnfield School Governor, opened the scheme on 10th July 2008 at the school summer fayre.

The play facility represents a groundbreaking project between Lynnfield Primary School and the town's New Deal for Communities (NDC) scheme. Part of the school playing field has been transformed into a creative play facility and a multi-use games area. The facility will be open to local residents at the end of the school day, at weekends and in school holidays. The play area moves away from traditional swings and slides, promoting free play through colourful objects, wooden planks, grassed mounds and a small wooden climbing wall.

Adriana Oliveros-Blanco, from Anthony Walker and Partners, the landscape architects for the scheme, commented, "Lynnfield School is a project that offered the opportunity to develop a stimulating place shared by both the school and the local community. Appointing Hellens has been the right decision. Not only have they implemented the works as expressed on the initial commission but also their experience in offering alternative solutions have contributed to make this place the successful play area that the children in Hartlepool were looking for."

Ian Pallas, Hellens Contracts Manager for the scheme adds, "At the opening on the 10th July I felt very proud to have been involved with such a unique scheme. We completed the scheme with no accidents or incidents and with no disruption to the school at all. We also completed the scheme within the original budget. Judging by all the happy faces at the opening it will provide a great lift to the local children and community."