Three Southport mums have each received an award hailing them as community champions for working "tirelessly" to save a local park.

The women were given the recognition for their "outstanding contribution" to the Kew Playground Campaign which they set up after Ovington Drive park was closed due to its 30-year-old equipment being declared unsafe.

Working with local Labour activists who backed their plans to have the play equipment replaced and the park reopened, they managed to secure an agreement from Sefton Council for £30,000 towards the scheme but were still significantly short of the estimated £50,000 replacement cost.

Two of the women, Diane Thomas and Nat Glennon, then went to the now-defunct Southport Area Committee to ask the ward's Liberal Democrat councillors for the remaining funds. They left instead empty-handed and feeling "bullied, humiliated and intimidated" after being shouted at and harangued by some of the Lib Dem group.

It took members of the public intervening from the gallery to insist that the attack stop and several complaints were subsequently lodged. A recommendation was later made that Sefton Council's code of conduct be updated and all councillors receive mandatory retraining following the incident.

It was the women's refusal to accept this huge setback and their determination to be unbowed by the treatment they received that led in part to the award, which was made by the Sefton Council Leader's Office.

Diane Thomas said they were thrilled to receive the honour after everything they went through, explaining:

" We were shocked and really upset by the hostility we faced at that meeting and by what we feel were their subsequent attempts to attack and undermine our campaign but we were absolutely determined it wouldn't stop us."

"It's taken a year to finally get access to the ward funds. It was less than half of what we'd originally asked for and even that only happened because by then Labour's Janis Blackburne had been elected in Kew and she pressed the case for us."

Professional childminder Tracy Burke, the third organiser behind the campaign, continued:

"It's been a really long slog but by working with various groups like the local school, Southport Labour and Sefton Council we eventually managed come up with £46,000 to see the project completed."

"We've been pretty disgusted though to see that the local Lib Dems recently issued a leaflet claiming they always intended to support the playground. Quite simply, that couldn't be further from the truth as far as we are concerned."

"We are just glad we got past all their antics to get the park open again."

The award was presented at the park on behalf of Sefton Council Leader Ian Maher by its Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, Cllr Ian Moncur, along with Kew Councillor Janis Blackburne. Cllr. Moncur says the women "thoroughly deserve" the recognition:

" They've worked tirelessly for their community, even in the face of totally unnecessary difficulty and have pressed on regardless to raise the money needed. We were delighted to work with the campaigners to help ensure the park was re-opened."

"The children of Kew deserve this facility and the women thoroughly deserve this award. They are a real credit to their community."

Seeing the park open was not only a testament to the women's hard work but showed the benefit of local residents working with the local authority, believes Kew Councillor Janis Blackburne:

"It's a prime example of how something is achieved by working in a spirit of cooperation, rather than adopting the agitation and division tactics favoured by some."

"I'm delighted for the campaign that we've got to this point and for the strong women behind it that they've been recognised for their success."

Nat Glennon said with the project complete, they are now simply looking forward to watching the local youngsters enjoy the park:

"It took a lot of teamwork to get here, from Kew Woods School to local residents and businesses and then people like Liz Savage who all helped us along the way."

"This is the playground's first week of being open after the redesign and new equipment so it's wonderful to see that happen for the kids of Kew."

"The award is lovely and we are very touched but nothing beats seeing the local children being able to play in their park again. That's enough to be honest."

so they have won an award from Sefton Council who would not build the playground in the first place!!