Ambitious plans to transform a riverside play park behind Bungay Golf Club have received a welcome cash boost.

The PJ Livesey Group has donated £500 to Bungay Town Council backed initiative that aims to restore the site and make it a family picnic and recreation area.

The company is currently developing Waterside Maltings on the former silk mill site at Ditchingham.

Director Georgina Livesey said: “This will be a wonderful community facility and we are glad to help. Outney Common and the play park are a ten minute walk from our development and a big attraction for people moving in there. We are a family run company and understand just how important it is to support local facilities and clubs. We are building around 120 properties at Waterside Maltings and we are sure the new people moving in will make full use of both the park.”

Bungay mayor Sylvia Knights, said: “Refurbishment of the town’s play parks is an initiative started by my predecessor Judy Cloke. Historically this was a site where local children came to play and jump into the river, but over the years it has fallen into disrepair.

“We want to change that and the generous support of PJ Livesey is really welcome.

“The golf club has donated several picnic benches that were being replaced and ideally we would like to replace all the children’s play equipment.

“We are also talking to The River Waveney Trust to see if it would be possible to safely open up access to the river again.”

The PJ Livesey Group already sponsors Bungay Town FC girls football teams and has also given £500 towards the refurbishment of Bungay Library.

Mrs Knights said: “Because of the anomalies of planning, all the agreed Section 106 monies went to Norfolk even though Bungay is the closest town to the development, so we are very pleased to have PJ Livesey’s enthusiastic support for the community initiatives.”