FUNDRAISING ferrets were cheered on by spectators on Saturday night as they raced to make money for a new playground.

More than 150 people crowded into the Curzon Centre on Maxwell Road, Beaconsfield, to enjoy a night of betting and a fish and chip supper.

Backstage, the frisky ferrets relaxed in fur-lined hammocks before taking centre stage.

The night kick-started a campaign by five mums from Beaconsfield to revitalise the Malthouse Square Recreation Ground. The cheering crowd placed bets on which furry competitor would be the quickest through an obstacle course, and raised a whopping £3,700 towards the mums' project.

Brian McNicoll, chairman of Hants and Berks Ferret Club which ran the races, said: "We call it ferret racing, they call it investigating. They are nosey creatures."

Dave Wyatt, 40, bagged himself £40 of vouchers after he bet on Fire Water to win. The paving contractor from Beaconsfield Old Town said: "I'm absolutely delighted and over the moon.

"I'm going to treat my friends with my winnings."

His wife Lorraine, one of the organisers, said: "It's a fun night and everyone is really in the swing of things."

She said the mums decided to revamp the recreation area because they were sick of having to drive to Henley and Marlow to take their children to a decent playground.

They formed the Malthouse Square PlayGround Association (MSPA) in March, this year, with the aim of raising the £200,000 needed to improve the play area and make it accessible all year round.

Deborah Holmes, 37, chairman of the association, said: "It would be great to have a facility here for the children of Beaconsfield to encourage outdoor play and activity and not just in the summer months but throughout the year.

"If we can create places where children want to go and want to be then it can only mean good things for our community."

The MSPA aims to raise £30,000 so they can complete stage one of the project and the committee said this inaugural event has got them off to a great start.

Mrs Holmes said: "I think it's been fantastic and I think the ferret racing has caught everyone's imagination and it looks like they are having fun.

"We are hoping our events will become a thing to look out for and fun to go to."

For more information or to make a donation go to www.malthousesqplayground.org.uk