Dedicated villagers have raised around £50,000 to buy state-of-the-art equipment for the play area next to the village hall.

Last Friday afternoon, Bill – who plays PC Alf Ventress in the hit ITV drama – cut the ribbon and officially opened the long-awaited playground, much to the delight of local children, their parents and villagers who have all supported the project.

He told the Whitby Gazette he was delighted to open the play area

"I think it's wonderful.

"I've been watching it put together over the past few months, it's great."

Last year's borough mayor and mayoress Herbert and Annie Tindall, who made a substantial donation from the Mayoress' Fund, also joined in the celebrations.

After 18 months of fund-raising, a small band of Goathland Village Hall Trust committee members pulled in donations from locals, cash from craft fairs and grants from various organisations.

Goathland play area project leader, Pru Simpson, who has lived in the village for 10 years, said when they held a meeting in the village prior to the project commencing, everybody wanted the play area.

It had been in bad need of repair and eventually a notice was put up saying youngsters shouldn't use it.

Mrs Simpson said villagers have been very generous and local children couldn't believe the play area was built for them

"There was a lot of money from the village, anything from £10 to £3,000," said Mrs Simpson.

"There were 30 children on it the other day. When we first opened it they were so absolutely over the moon, they couldn't believe it was for them.

"They are so happy.

"The kids have been fantastic. We talked to them about not going on it and they didn't go on it until they were allowed to."

Grants for the play area came from Yorventure, The Local Network Fund, The Normanby Charitable Trust, The Parochial Church Council, The Jack Brunton Charitable Trust, The Mayoress' Fund and money from the Village Amenity Fund.

Planning permission was granted in October and the equipment was installed over the past month including swings, a tower and slide, balancing equipment and a spinning frame.