IT IS environmentally friendly and is in full swing at a Fair Oak recreation ground.

The village is one of the first areas in the country to introduce play equipment which is entirely made of recycled materials.

The multi-play feature in the village's New Century Park includes a bridge, fireman's pole, steps and a slide.

Already popular in Europe, this type of revolutionary play equipment has been a big success in the inner London area.

Fair Oak and Horton Heath parish clerk Cheryl Gosling said: "We are one of the first areas outside of London to introduce play equipment which is made of 100 per cent recycled materials."

Costing £13,000, it has replaced timber framed play equipment which was more than 20 years old.

The state-of-the-art facility is also vandal proof. That is a big bonus for a play area which has suffered from mindless wrecking sprees.