NOT EVEN the rain stopped volunteers ensuring children in Longfield have a play area.

Residents and environmental charity Groundwork came together, despite the elements, to protect the village's new play area which opened last year. They planted new hedges around the park to protect it from further vandalism, in addition to posts already erected.

Groundwork's Chris Hoddinott said: "So much hard work and funding have been put into developing the area for local people that it was great to do something positive to protect it." The park will re-open later this year.