Children of Coldean can thank a mum-of-two for spending her spare time working towards the revamp of a park area with sights now set on another.

NHS cost accountant Hannah James, 42, formed the Coldean Parks Group to re-develop Wolseley Road Park with plans to revamp Haig Avenue Park.

Mrs James said: “I really wanted a safe and stimulating environment for my kids to play.”

The Coldean Parks Group plan to apply for Brighton and Hove council funding to transform Haig Avenue Park which they hope will be complete by summer 2012.

Mrs James said Haig avenue Park was backed onto by three different roads and residents were terrified at the thought of houses being built there.

Year 8 students of Patcham High School have created designs for Haig Avenue Park which is hoped to become a garden area with a park for 5-8 year-olds.

Robyn Steer, Community Media and Visual Arts Coordinator at Patcham High School, said: “This project was fantastic for our students because their designs would go on to have a real, positive impact on the Coldean community.”

The best student designs were displayed in Coldean library for residents to vote on, the winner was student Daniel Webster.

Ms Steer said students were asked to design a user friendly park in a Life Skills lesson on community which was perfect as many were from Coldean.

Residents were asked to fill in a questionnaire that compiled all the elements to perfect the design.

Work began on Wolseley Road Park last July after Mrs James steered a three year campaign for funding to renovate the rusting and broken equipment.

Hannah said: “My 12-year old now wants to go to Wolseley Road Park all the time, before the revamp he found it boring.”

Mrs James continued to seek funding after Wolseley Road Park failed to win a competition for a £10,000 makeover of Britain’s worst playground.

Secretary of the Coldean Residential Association, Robin Berry, 66, said full credit goes to Hannah who put many hours into the project.

During the campaign the community were encouraged to get involved at Wolseley Road Park by attending Easter egg hunts, summer picnics and Halloween events.

A spokesperson from Brighton and Hove council said: “The new play area at Wolseley Road is open for use and has unique new equipment which can’t be found in other playgrounds in the city.”

The park area has been improved alongside 11 other sites across the city this year with funding for the site being approximately £50,000.

Chair of Coldean Youth Group, Julie Donovan, said: “We passionately believe in the need for a decent local park, not only so the kids can have proper play equipment but because communities need social spaces.”