Parents and children say they are surprised and delighted at a shock council announcement that the £60,000 needed for the re-vamp of a play area has been found.

Mothers from Waltham Abbey were so fed up with taking their children out of the town to find suitable parks for their children that they petitioned the town council to provide better play equipment at Town Mead.

They were told at the town’s annual meeting a few weeks ago that the council had just £15,000 of the £75,000 needed for a new playground.

But new mayor Ann Mitchell announced on Friday that Essex County Council had provided the £60,000 shortfall.

She said “compelling evidence” had been put to the county council for money from the Community Initiatives Fund.

She added: “It now means we can proceed quickly with this project, with input from our young people and their parents and carers.

“We are delighted with this award; it means so much to our community.”

Mother-of-three and childminder Angie Schooling, 36, of Roundhills, said: “It’s surprising they’ve suddenly found a use for the money when they told us there was nothing before.

“I’m delighted. It’s down to people power and I’d like to say thank you to the people of Waltham Abbey for getting behind it.

“I now want people to have a say in whatever they’re planning to do.”

More than 250 people signed an online petition calling for work to be done to the play area, which parents said needed repairs and did not provide enough equipment to keep children occupied.