The new playground at Saffron Walden Common was officially opened by the mayor of Saffron Walden, Paul Fairhurst, and competition winner Noah Thompson.

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Noah won the best colouring competition, judged by the mayoress Margaret Fairhurst, and his prize was to support the mayor in the official opening. His name also takes pride of place on the new welcome sign at the entrance of the playground.

Saffron Walden Town Council would like to thank all of those involved in the delivery of the new play area - the manufacturers, Essex County Council, Uttlesford District Council, The Big Lottery Fund and the Wellcome Genome Campus for their financial contributions.

A spokesman said: “There was such a lovely atmosphere at the official opening and we are so pleased to see how well used and liked the new equipment is. The children just love the bright, new and engaging play pieces and it has certainly proven to be a very popular and worthwhile project.”

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)

Saffron Walden Reporter: Mayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHYMayor Cllr. Paul Fairhust with the new Welcome sign at The Common Playground. Picture: CELIA BARTLETT PHOTOGRAPHY (Image: Copyright © 2017 Celia Bartlett Photography. All rights reserved)