A major renovation of a popular park in Swindon has got underway.

On November 23, members of South Swindon Parish Council, the National Trust, Historic England and the Mechanics Institute Trust gathered as the first layers of gravel were installed.

Diggers were also out removing earth from the ground.

GWR park is an important green space in the town centre and was previously a cricket pitch for workers of the former railway company.

£126,000 has been invested, and the parish council will take on a new 99-year lease for the site.

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Cllr Janine Howarth, vice chair of SSPC, said: “I am very excited that the spades have gone into the ground, we’ve talked about it for a few years now.

“It’s all coming together now and by the spring we will see the real results getting of what we are doing.”

The project will aim to bring back some history of the park, where the South Swindon community can come and enjoy the open space.

Cllr Howarth added: “People are appreciating more what GWR Park stands for which is to do with the railway works, so we are bringing back the spirit of what the park used to be.

“We are giving back to our community because that’s what we are all about.

“We are all about listening and delivering, what our community wants.”

Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Heritage, Leisure and Town Centre Experience Matty Courtliff was also present.

He said it was important to remember what the railway village was like during it’s heyday.

Thousands of people were employed at the former Great Western Railway works right up until its closure in 1986.

Cllr Courtliff said: “Swindon is one of those great places where people come to live and work and having somewhere where residents can learn about the GWR is fantastic.”

The cabinet member added that times were tough for the council as their budgets get squeezed, but said it was important for SBC to work with parish councils across the town.

He said: “Parishes do deliver a lot of front-line services, so it is important for the borough council to support parishes and make communities what they are.”

The National Trust, which has its head office in Swindon, has played a key role in securing the project.

Places programme manager, Sophie Wardell said: “It’s really exciting to be stood here and to see work happening.

“We’re really keen to hear from communities in Swindon on how they want to use this space."