Youngsters given an early go on the new playpark in Coate Water Country Park gave it an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Councillors, council officials staff from the company which designed and built the new £500,000 facility and the press gathered at the park a few yards from the car park and lake for the official unveiling.

But taking centre stage was children from two schools, Crowdy’s Hill and Badbury Park Primary, who tested the equipment.

They all loved the swings, a nine-tower structure with slides, ropes and ramps, sunken trampolines and an accessible play fort.

With accessibility and inclusion being a major part of the brief, the verdict of the children who go to Crowdy’s Hill, who have a range of physical and learning difficulties, was particularly important.

Hayden and Kyle, who both use a wheelchair, said they particularly liked the wheelchair-accessible roundabout, where all children including those who use a mobility aid can use it together.

Zac from the school said: “I really liked all the different obstacles you could climb over."

Jack added: "The best thing is we could all play together.”

The children from Badbury Park Primary were just as keen. Reign, eight, said: “I like the spiral slide, I went round and down, it was great."

Elsie was keen on the spinning table but the big hit for this class was the trampolines, sunk into the ground and surrounded by soft plastic floor covering so falls are not a problem – Nya and Ellie, both seven were particularly in favour of those.

After cutting the ribbon Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for leisure Matty Courtliff said: “I’m really proud to see something we’ve talked about for so long actually open.

“And the best thing is seeing the children running about enjoying it and all playing together.

"This is Swindon’s flagship accessible play park and I hope it becomes a destination for families from Swindon and further afield."

His cabinet colleague Jenny Jefferies, the lead member for children’s services added: “The attention to detail and quality of this park is amazing.

"Not only is it accessible for children with physical disabilities, there are all sorts of sensory equipment for youngsters with hidden disabilities as well.”

The park was designed and built by specialist company ESP Playparks. Boss Mike Clark said: “It’s designed so all the children can play together.

"That inclusivity was at the heart of the brief.”