17 April 2011 Last updated at 07:52 ET

Treuddyn bike track officially opens

The bike track and play area are among the most recent additions to Flintshire's Treuddyn village

A Flintshire village is officially opening its new £150,000 bike track after securing £500,000 in community grants over the past three years.

It follows the opening of a new play area in Treuddyn, and the village hall has been renovated to become a "buzzing hive of activity" for new groups.

A local councillor says village groups pulled together to secure the funds.

Ward councillor Carolyn Thomas said it had been a busy three years but it showed what could be achieved.

Children take part in bike maintenance skills workshop in the renovated village hall

"It is lovely to see the village thriving with activity and also how volunteers from Treuddyn Community Association, Treuddyn Community Council and residents have pulled together to work on accessing grants, project managing schemes and helping with the village hall renovation," she said.

The most recent funding was for the bike track - built in three months - and play area, including £149,000 from the assembly government's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund and £25,000 from its Youth Service Strategy Capital Grant.

Mrs Thomas said training had been given to the children using the track as well as bike maintenance.

A group of adults and young people are receiving leadership training so they can help "develop the skills of the young people in the community".

This has involved training sessions in the village hall, on the bike track and off-road at nearby Nercwys Forest and Llandegla Forest.

"The bike track is something that appeals to children and adults of all ages and is one of the longest in the UK," said Mrs Thomas.

Other grants have come from rural development agency, Cadwyn Clwyd, to pay for interpretation and noticeboards, improving footpaths and rural walks as well as a village website.

A grant from Keep Wales Tidy also paid for gloves and vests for volunteers carrying out community litter picks.