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.

But Colin Kershaw, of the League of Friends, said: "We are absolutely delighted to finally be able to open the playground. We are overjoyed that everything has come together so well after a number of frustrations. We have had a few set backs but the people of Redditch have been wonderful."

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.