When Mike Albury offered to help upgrade the playground at his daughter Mae’s school he may not have realised he would still be working on it four months later.

But the hard graft of Mr Albury is now being enjoyed by all youngsters at Herne Junior School after the official opening of the play area.

“The playground really needed upgrading,” Mr Albury said, of Albany Drive, Herne Bay. “So back in October I said I would help out and I’ve been coming in ever since.”

First he thinned trees and levelled the field then he sifted the soil. Next he fixed fencing, installed posts, knocked down walls, remounted play equipment, and mapped out areas for the safety matting.

By Christmas he had ensured the 580 sq m of space was all ready save for the spreading of woodchip and the laying of safety matting. This has now been completed and head teacher Quentin Roper led the ceremony to officially declare the playground open for adventure.