THREE years ago a group of mums raised cash for a children’s playground in Heddington.

Now the same group has got behind Oli Spooner, 15, who has launched a campaign to have a 'multi-use games area' on the village’s recreating ground.

“My passion is basketball,” he said, “I’m in the John Bentley School team, but I also love football.

“The MUGA allows five-a-side football, tennis, basketball, netball and hockey. It's what the village needs.”

His mum Laura Barnsley, 34, said she was proud Oli's campaign and together with Lynda Brown, 71, and a group of women in the village they had formed an action group.

Lynda Brown said: “We’ll be selling plants, tennis balls, sweets, T-shirts and toys at the Heddington and Stockley Steam Rally on July 6 and 7.

“We'll have a kids' stall with henna tattoos and glitter.

“I raised £685 from my bridge club.

“We have a fun run on September 22 and a calendar will be on sale in time for Christmas to raise money.”

Laura added: “Oli’s brother Jasper is right behind the idea and so are so many people in Heddington.

“We will be applying for grants as a MUGA can cost tens of thousands of pounds, but to do that with things like the lottery application you need to show you are proactive and have already started fundraising and have a plan.

“Oli is in the action group which includes Gemma Coombes, Frankie Ovens, Lucy Hulbert, Angela Willis, Lynda Brown and Laura Barnsley.”

Lynda said it was Oli’s idea and the playground triggered his ambition for a MUGA for older children and adults.

“Once the play equipment was installed, more families came to the recreation ground from across the area,” she said. “They bring picnics and sit on the benches so it’s nice.”

MUGAs can cost over £60,000.