THERE was a strong sense of community at the grand re-opening of the new-look King George V playing fields in Worcester.

The park at Brickfields now has a state-of-the-art community centre, a floodlit all-weather football pitch and a number of outdoor play areas following the major redevelopment, which took 11 months to complete.

A spectacular firework display and community football matches marked the official re-opening of the playing fields on Thursday evening.

Many local people attended the event, together with Lord Pendry, president of the Football Foundation; Worcester-born footballer Mark Little, who now plays for Wolverhampton Wanders, and the Mayor of Worcester, councillor Lucy Hodgson.

Joining them at the celebrations was Biddy Furlong, aged 90, the lifelong president of the Friends of King George V playing fields.

She has been campaigning for better facilities for the past 60 years.

The work was made possible by a grant for £850,000 from the Football Foundation.

Local fund-raising added another £12,000 and this has enabled the campaigners to furnish their new community centre.