A bridge over some troublesome water has finally been built after a campaign by youngsters.

Sisters Yasmeen and Naomi Ward asked Bicester councillors in August for a bridge to enable them to get across a stream which separates their home from a field and play area.

Previously, they had to walk along busy roads and through an industrial estate at Wedgwood Road to reach a play area.

But they petitioned Bicester Town Council and Cherwell District Council, claiming if a bridge was built over Collison Ditch, which is behind the Whitley Crescent area, in Glory Farm, about 100 children would benefit by getting to the playground by a shorter, safer route.

Until recently, the children used an old car roof as a stepping stone, and also made bridges using discarded pallets and tree branches. Bicester Town Council paid £249, half of the cost of the bridge, and Cherwell District Council footed the bill for the rest.

Tina Ward, the girls' mother, said: "I am very proud of the way the girls worked hard to persuade the council to get the bridge built.

"It's so much easier for them to get across to the field now. We have had a lot of people come to us and say thank you."

Yasmeen, 10, said: "Children need space to play. If there was a bridge across the brook, all the children in our area could reach the safe play area. We have already spent six years of our lives not being able to use facilities without a struggle."

The girls were helped in their campaign by neighbour Jan West, who counted in paces the distance to the play area -- 570 if the children go the long way round or 325 walking across the stream.

Ms West, of Beaufort Close, said: "It was a long way to walk around through an industrial estate.

"Children and many other people who live in the estate will be able to get across to the fields in two minutes instead of 10-15 minutes."