Residents may have noticed the recent arrival of an enormous new piece of furniture on a common.

The megabench has been installed by Groundwork Hertfordshire in Walsworth Common, Hitchin.

The project implementation team built the bench at the end of November and it forms part of wider plans to improve the play facilities in the park.

Mark Turner, Groundwork’s landscape project manager, said: “This was one of the more unusual things we’ve built but it was a good challenge and we’re really pleased with the result. We’re sure it’ll be a popular addition to the park – there aren’t many play areas that can boast a bench this big.”

North Herts District Council commissioned Groundwork to engage with the local community and come up with a redesign for play spaces at Walsworth Common and Ransom’s Rec.