Gavin Williamson hits the gym to celebrate park's makeover - PICTURES and VIDEO

The Defence Secretary, who is long-standing supporter of Coven Playing Field Committee, was on hand to officially open the new village facilities.

Six pieces of gym equipment including an exercise bike, rowing machine and air walker, have been installed in the park thanks to the hard work of committee members Yvonne Kinson, Jo Cole, Maryann Edge and Stacey Beason.

It's the second phase of a ambitious project which saw the group raise more than £72,000 to bring the former dilapidated playground back to life.

Over 18 months they worked tirelessly, alongside their jobs and parenting duties, to generate enough cash to provide new equipment for all ages.

The first phase was completed last summer and saw additions such as a tree house and slide, basket swing, roundabout, zip wire, activity net and play board.

The new-look playground,which cost around £65,000 was opened by Mr Williamson in July.

He returned on Friday to help celebrate the completion of the gym area. It cost around £7,000 with money coming from fundraising and a grant from Midcounties Co-operative.

Mr Williamson was full of praise for the four women who have been the driving force behind the project.

"At the start it seemed like an incredible challenge, they were going to have to raise tens of thousands of pounds and we did think it was going to take years and years. What has actually happened is that so many people have come together.

"There has been the support from the likes of Midcounties Co-operative and Veolia but more importantly, the whole community has put their hands in their pockets to raise money.

"It's going to make a real difference to Coven for many generations and it's down to these wonderful ladies who have put in so many hours, weeks and months over the last two years to make a dream a reality," added Mr Williamson.

Mother of one Jo, aged 43, said they were delighted to welcome Mr Williamson back to the playing field to see the finished park.

"People in the village told us they wanted gym equipment but we didn't quite have enough money to do it in the summer. It's great that it's here now for people to use and it's something that adults can use too," she added.

Mother of two Yvonne, 43, said: "It's the end of a long journey and it's brilliant to see the park being used all year round."

As well as events such as Easter and Halloween discos and a Christmas fair, they successfully applied for grants and had support from organisations including Veolia Environmental Trust, Aviva Community Fund and Tesco and the Coven, Codsall and Brewood branches of Midcounties Co-operative.

Tarra Simmons, general manager for co-operative social responsibility for The Midcounties Co-operative said: "Supporting the renovation of Coven playground has been amazing. We’ve been inspired by the way the committee lifted this project off the ground and generated this incredible transformation.

"We chose to support it because keeping the community clean is really important to us, which is why we have a network of volunteers that will continue litter picking in the area now the renovation has finished. It’s been a pleasure to be involved in this project and we know it will make an enormous difference within the local community.”