TELEVISION personality and broadcaster Peter Purves opened a new village green on Saturday.Villagers converged on the new Doorstep Green in Hacheston, near Framlingham, to enjoy the facilities.

TELEVISION personality and broadcaster Peter Purves opened a new village green on Saturday.

Villagers converged on the new Doorstep Green in Hacheston, near Framlingham, to enjoy the facilities.

Former Blue Peter presenter Mr Purves, who lives locally, told the crowd: “People assume children in the countryside have lots of play areas but they usually have nothing, so it important for children to have areas to play. This green is a great asset for everyone in the village of Hacheston.”

Geoff Woodard, chairman of the village green committee, said 250 people attended the celebrations and enjoyed circus skills workshops, music, morris dancers and a host of other entertainment. The event was also attended by Countryside Agency deputy chairman Peter Fane.

He said the agency joined forces with the Big Lottery to help finance the Doorstep Green project which aimed to create hundreds of village greens throughout the country.

Hacheston's green committee treasurer Kate White said: “The green has really surpassed all our expectations. People come from a wide area to use it. And we have our chairman Geoff Woodard to thank for that. He has really been the driving force behind this. That is why we presented him with a plaque thanking him for all his efforts.”