SCHOOL children in Settle have been enjoying state-of-the-art play equipment with a Three Peaks theme, thanks to a donation from Friends of the Dales.

The charity has topped off a fundraising campaign by the primary school PTA by contributing £2,400 towards the cost of a ‘Penyghent’ high-quality natural wood adventure trail and an ‘Ingleborough’ double-width slide, which has been installed on an embankment.

The donation marks the final distribution of money collected in memory of Ken Willson who served for many years as first president of the Dales-based charity, at that time known as the Yorkshire Dales Society.

Settle Legacy Fund also made a major contribution of £8,000 and help was provided by the Co-op’s local community fund and Tesco community grants.

“Supporting local primary schools and young people in the Dales is fundamental to our charity’s mission,” said Friends of the Dales chairman Bruce McLeod.

“We are proud to contribute to the wellbeing of the school and to encourage children to be active and creative outdoors.”

Deputy headteacher Laura Thompson added: “We are so excited to have raised enough funding to improve our playground. Many thanks to all the groups that have helped us to provide this wonderful equipment, which will help to support children’s physical and mental wellbeing.”

The adventure trail incorporates swinging traverses and a series of log obstacles. The play equipment will also be made available to visiting pupils from Kirkby Malham and other local groups and holiday clubs that use the school.

There are plans to add a musical and sensory area when funding permits.