AN eagerly-anticipated play park has officially opened after three decades of campaigning by residents.

Children in Sterte now have a brand new pirate-themed play area, which was officially opened on Saturday.

The Pirates of Poole attended the event, as well as members of the Sterte Community Garden Association who took on the task of fundraising and applying for various grants to help fund the project.

Residents have been working for years to get a playground built in their local area.

In April, work finally began to install the £82,000 play area on Sterte Green, off Sterte Esplanade, which features a pirate ship and include swings, roundabouts and slides.

Veolia Environmental Trust awarded the project £47,243 through the Landfill Communities Fund, Poole Housing Partnership and Borough of Poole both awarded the scheme £16,000 and Spectrum Housing Group, through its resident-led Three Counties Communities Forum, donated £3,000.