Two years after Covid put paid to a new accessible children's play park on the Isle of Wight, anonymous donors have stepped in to revitalise plans.

It means Godshill Play Park, at Central Mead, will be built after all.

The idea for the park first came about in 2015, courtesy of Godshill resident, Nikki Collinson-Phenix.

Nikki said she had a "heart breaking" conversation with a mum who mentioned how challenging she found taking her child, who is in a wheelchair, to a playground.

"They always had to sit on the sidelines to watch their siblings having fun because none of the equipment was wheelchair accessible", Nikki said.

Isle of Wight County Press: Central Mead, where the play park will go.Central Mead, where the play park will go. (Image: Nikki Collinson-Phenix)

Fuelled by a "stubborn determination", Nikki took on the project, with the mantra 'fun for ALL!’ 

Permission to build the park was eventually granted in June 2021.

However, the following year, funding promised by the National Lottery was pulled, leaving the project in doubt.

Two years on, the remaining money has now been secured thanks to Island businesses and anonymous donors.

In a statement, the donors said: "We were so excited to read about the playpark project and simultaneously devastated when we had heard it had lost funding.

"We really wanted to be able to help and to see this much valuable resource built for the village and the wider community".

Nikki said she was "speechless" when she heard of the anonymous donation.

She said: "There were certainly a good few tears of joy.

Isle of Wight County Press: How the play park could look.How the play park could look. (Image: Sovereign)

"To say we are so grateful is an understatement and just doesn’t come close to what this means to us.

"It may have taken eight and a half years from that first conversation and the launch of the project, but finally that play park is going to be built and I could not be more grateful to everyone who has supported this project, but of course especially to these unbelievable donors."

Although the project has had to be revised, Nikki said the inclusive space will still feature a range of wheel-accessible equipment and equipment for able-bodied children and sensory areas.

Work to build the new play park is due to begin shortly.