AN annual playscheme in Great Wakering opened its doors for its 29th year of family-orientated fun.

The Great Wakering Summer Playscheme runs every morning for a week during the school holidays, welcoming an average of 200 children per session.

Lyn Rodger, one of the playscheme’s organisers, said: “This year’s playscheme went very well and everybody had a whale of a time.

“It’s not just for the children of Great Wakering – we have children from Southend, Rochford, Eastwood, all over the district.”

The scheme, which started in 1984, is held in the Community Centre on Great Wakering high street.

Lyn said: “We set this up out of necessity for the village – they didn’t have the activity centres and playgroups that they have today back then, and it’s remained a success ever since.”

“It used to run for four weeks, but we had to decrease the length because we didn’t have enough volunteers. Our helpers are fantastic – we have around 50 in total – but we’d love to have more people on board.”

Children can take part in a variety of activities, including African drums, circus skills, kickboxing, arts and crafts, face-painting, cooking and dancing.

There are also outside activities such as playground equipment, sports, and woodworking.

Earlier in the week Rochford District Council chairman, Barbara Wilkins, came along to support the scheme by reading to children.