A £35,000 state-of-the-art playground will finally be opened at the Alexandra Hospital on Saturday after almost three years of fundraising and a number of set backs.

The hospital's League of Friends set up the appeal to build the facility after concerns there had been no play area for children for five years.

A failed lottery bid, poor weather conditions and the replacement of the hospital roof all added to the delay in completing the playground.

The playground will be for able-bodied and disabled patients and has been designed to help aid recovery by using equipment to build up strength and co-ordination.

Redditch Mayor Dot Dudley will be at the opening ceremony along with a host of people who have helped raise money for the playground.

Among them will be a Redditch police officer who cycled, with fellow colleagues, from Lands End to John O' Groats to raise money to provide CCTV cameras for the play area.