SIMMONS Park has been selected as one of more than 1,500 fields protected in celebration of the 2012 Diamond Jubilee.

The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge is a UK-wide programme to celebrate the 2012 Jubilee and London Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as the 2014 Commonwealth Games by permanently protecting as many outdoor recreational spaces as possible.

Simmons Park is one of a handful in the county selected to have the Diamond Jubilee seal, given out by Fields in Trust.

Town mayor Cllr the Rev Mike Davies said: 'The park is one of the jewels of our town, and to receive this status means a lot, and shows how valuable Simmons Park is to the town and area. It is something we can all be very proud of.'

The council is still to decide where to put the commemorative seal in the park.