Children at a Watford School have helped design a brand new play space for the community in Leavesden.

Watford Community Housing Trust has involved the Year 3 pupils at Leavesden Green JMI School in the layout of the new play area at Hill Farm Close, as it recognises it is important to give the users of the playground a say in how it is designed.

The Trust has also consulted other members of the community on the space.

After more than seven hours of consultation to finalise designs, a new name, Phoenix Park, has been chosen for the playground, and Leavesden Green pupils will also be designing the logo.

The design, which will now be submitted for planning permission, was handpicked by the children out of five choices and is expected to open later this year.

Pupil Jamie said: "The design I liked best was chosen and I can’t wait to play there."

Lesley Folgate, a resident of Hill Farm Close, said: "The community are very pleased that we have given the opportunity to work with Watford Community Housing Trust and that this important piece of community land will be kept as a recreational area."

Robert Lock, contracts officer at Watford Community Housing Trust, added: "It was a very rewarding experience to work with the local community and children to see their ideas take shape, and to create a design for the park that they can be proud of for many years to come."