PLAYGROUND fun will be s-pecially fun for children this summer thanks to the arrival of a giant letter S sculpture.

The striking black and red consonant – created to help publicise a community volunteering initiative – was previously on display at Saffron Walden’s One Minet Skate Park but has now found a new home at Ashdon Children’s Nursery.

Skate park staff and users felt it was time for the giant letter, one of a dozen created especially for an Essex County Council community project, to s-lip on a pair of walking s-hoes and find a new place to s-tay.

The s-pectacularly s-triking alphabetical s-ymbol was handed over to the nursery so that it could be enjoyed by pre-school children.

Youngsters at the skate park hope the children will follow in their footsteps by re-decorating the letter with their own design before it takes pride of place alongside their existing play equipment.

The letter was one of 12 given to each district in Essex by the county council early last year.

Community groups in each area were asked to decorate the letters, which together spelled out ‘Good for Essex’.

The ‘Good for Essex’ website promotes volunteering and community-based opportunities in the county with the aim of getting people involved and helping the local community.

Uttlesford District Council asked One Minet Park to decorate its letter S and the authority said it was delighted when skaters, park visitors and passers-by all played their part.

The simple but striking black and red design was dreamed up by the skaters, led by Grace Mooney aged 19.

Dozens of children and teenagers visiting the skate park left their hand prints and names on the S – and a passing dog even left its paw print on it!

Jane Gray, decretary of Saffron Walden Skate Group, said: “We’ve enjoyed having the letter here but we felt it was time someone else was able to enjoy it. We’re s-sad to see it go but I’m sure the children at Ashdon Children’s Nursery will look after it properly and find a way to incorporate it in their play time.”

Visit goodforessex.org to find out more about volunteering in the community.