Parents and children who live in Jeffreyston now have access to a new community facility thanks in part to a £79,000 Community Facilities and Activities Programme (CFAP) grant from the Welsh Assembly Government.

The new building, which is in the grounds of St. Oswald's Voluntary Aided School, will provide a permanent base for the local playgroup and after- school club, as well as offering a variety of activities, such as fitness classes and computer courses to the local community.

Minister for Social Justice and Local Government, Dr. Brian Gibbons, who visited Jeffreyston on Wednesday, said: "With a total project cost of £235,000, I am pleased that the Welsh Assembly Government together with others involved with this project, has been able to provide the funding needed to help St. Oswald's Playgroup Committee take forward its vision for this facility, which the community will be able to use for many years to come.

"Not only will the local community benefit from excellent amenities, including a sensory garden and outdoor play facilities, the new building has been designed using the latest green technology with surplus energy generated being sold back to the national grid.

"Projects such as this help to deliver many of the Assembly Government's objectives. As set out in 'One Wales', our aim is to improve the quality of life and the standards of services people receive within communities across Wales. This is an excellent example of how a partnership approach can really make a difference in terms of community regeneration."