Delighted children were on hand to test out a Queen’s Park playground’s new climbing frame as London’s first ‘parish council’ for decades unveiled its first completed project.

The upgraded playground - complete with the “spectacular” new climbing frame, featuring a slide, fireman’s poles, ropes and bars - is the first scheme the fledgling Queen’s Park Community Council has completed.

The 12-strong community council was elected by residents in May after a long campaign to set it up, and works in much the same way as a traditional parish council.

Working with Westminster Council and the Friends of Queen’s Park Gardens, it made a successful application to fund the new equipment, aimed at children aged seven and above.

The council looked to the local community, and the children of Queen’s Park Primary School, to finalise its ideas, before a design was chosen and the new climbing frame, cone climber and two springers were installed in the park in Ilbert Street.

Queen’s Park community councillor Susanna Rustin said: “I am so pleased our playground looks so much livelier – and I hope we’ve shown that the new community council will make a real difference to people’s lives here.

“Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen – and to Tia Thompson, nine, of St Luke’s primary school, who cut the ribbon.”

The playground also has got a new roundabout, aimed at teenagers and funded by Queen’s Park’s three ward councillors.

Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, Queen’s Park councillor for Westminster, said: “We are delighted to have worked closely with the Friends of Queen’s Park Gardens and the Community Council to help improve the gardens. The play area looks fantastic and we hope everyone has many years’ enjoyment from the new equipment.”