FINLEY Halcrow became the most powerful schoolboy in Witney for a day as he became a council advisor.

The 10-year-old was invited to give his views on a play park in Cogges to Witney Town Council after getting fed up with the lack of equipment.

The Blake School pupil first met Labour town councillor Duncan Enright, who encouraged him to write to the council, which then invited him to the meeting at Witney town hall last Wednesday.

Finley, of Cogges Hill Road, said: “It was scary at first but when I found it wasn’t as many people as I thought it wasn’t so scary.”

The schoolboy put forward his ideas to the mayor and other councillors.

He said: “I thought it would be a good idea to build a skatepark so people don’t have to go into Witney to go skating.

“There should be benches for older people and litter bins up the hill which would make the park a lot better.”

Finley said he planned to design a logo to promote the park and to write more letters to councillors outlining his ideas.

His mother, Anouska Halcrow, who has two other children, said she was proud of Finley’s campaign. The 36-year-old said: “It’s something Finley’s been talking about, that the park wasn’t suitable for his age group.

“I was very proud. There are so many children who say they want something but don’t actually do anything about it.”

Howard Chirgwin, councillor for Witney East, said: “He was wonderful young lad to meet. I was impressed.”

Mr Chirgwin said he envisaged the Cogges park being funded in the same way as the new splash park on the Leys – as a partnership between the community and the town council.