Gill Hicks, who suffered the terrible injuries in the terrorist attacks on the London Underground in 2005, opened the park as she passed through the town as part of a 200-mile, month-long 'Walk Talk' charity trek from Leeds to London.

Mrs Hicks joined Harborough four-year-old Eva Winston-Hart, who has battled against leukaemia, and together they swung a champagne bottle made of sugar onto the side of a 'ship' - one of the new pieces of play equipment at the site.

About 100 people had joined Mrs Hicks on her walk from the Harborough's Roman Way Community Centre and hundreds more children joined her at the new play area to try out the equipment.

Mrs Hicks, who has prosthetic legs, was inspired to organise the Walk Talk challenge with her husband Joe Kerr because of the way people helped her when she was injured in the bomb, which exploded near King's Cross on the southbound Piccadilly Line.

Harborough was just one of 22 stop-off points on Mrs Hicks' challenge, which will finish in Brick Lane, east London, on August 17.

She said: "For me walking is the most difficult challenge ever. So I think to reach the half way point and still be laughing and smiling is a great achievement.

"We've had a great reaction here. The number of people who have come out to welcome us has been fantastic."

The new equipment at the park, installed by contractors Proludic, includes water and sand play areas, an obstacle course, swings, a ship, sea monster and a volcano tower with a tube slide.

For the older age group there is an aeroskate unit, climbing pole, rodeo board and a cable runway.

Amy Winston-Hart said her daughter Eva really enjoyed playing on the new equipment and added: "I think it's absolutely fantastic. It's very safe and there's lots to do."

In addition to the play area, new trees and picnic tables have been installed in the park thanks to Harborough Rotary Club in a £5,700 project.

Matthew Bills, public spaces manager for Harborough District Council, said: "We're very happy as a district council to be able to provide such a great facility. It's a great use of different surfaces and equipment. It's raising the bar for play areas across the country.

"We're very pleased that Gill and Eva have been able to come down. It's raised the profile of what we're trying to do and has given them a really positive finish to this section of their walk."