A family-run charity has raised £155,000 to build a playground designed by disadvantaged children.

Karers 4 Kidz is the brainchild of Katrina Bijowski, who set it up to build educational and recreational facilities where children of all back-grounds could play together.

Motivated by her experiences with daughter Emma, 17, who has cerebral palsy, she and husband Chris, 47, are two of three trustees who have worked together to raise funds for the new playground at Oak Farm Rocket Park, in Windsor Avenue, Hillingdon.

Mrs Bijowski, 51, of Ickenham, said: "We sent children, care workers, parents and teachers to other places, including in different counties, so they could tell us what they would like to see in the park.

"The prominent thing is they wanted facilities accessible to them - parks and playgrounds were they could mix so disabled and able bodied friends could interact."

The mother-of-two felt a particular affinity with the Oak Farm location after sending her daughter to the junior school.

In 1994 the Gazette helped raise cash to buy Emma a special wheel-chair so she could go to the school.

"She was the first child with a physical disability and we wanted her to go to the school and be included, and it worked very well," said Mrs Bijowski.

"On a personal level the decision to set up the charity was based on the experiences our family have had over the years."

After six years of planning the play area, called The Wooden Spoon Mobility Training and Recreation Centre, incorporating Peter Harrison Way and Chrysalis Close, is set to open in the autumn.

The Wooden Spoon charity funded £80,000 of the costs, £30,000 came from the Peter Harrison Foundation and £45,000 from the Chrysalis fund. Wicksteed Playscapes helped draw up plans from what children, parents and carers said they wanted.

Offering advise to other parents motivated to create more facilities, Mrs Bijowski added: "I would just say don't give up. Whenever you're trying something new you'll always come across opposition, but just stick to your guns.

"Community facilities should be there that meet the needs of the communities and not the needs of the providers."