A newly landscaped garden and play area outside Burwash House on the Kipling Estate has been named 'The Haye' in honour of Bermondsey-born WBA world heavyweight champion David Haye, who cut the ribbon the space on Tuesday evening. 

Adults and children clamoured to get autographs and pictures of the boxing star, who was brought up nearby, attended Snowsfields Primary School and begun his boxing career at the Fitzroy Lodge ABC in Lambeth.  

"It was an honour to go back to my old stamping ground and see so many familiar faces," said Haye, now 29 and a four-time world boxing champion. "I saw people there that I hadn't seen for over 20 years. It was brilliant.

"I never expected s to one day have a garden and play area dedicated to me in my old estate. This is a tremendous moment for me and I couldn't have been prouder to cut the ribbon and officially declare 'The Haye' open." 

The new-look garden between Burwash House and Mulvaney Way was designed and created by BA Design for Interaction and Moving Image students from the London College of Communication at Elephant & Castle.

The work was funded by a £22,000 grant from Southwark Council's Joint Security Initiative and carried out in partnership with Leathermarket JMB.

To mark the event, the heavyweight champion scribbled his autograph and left his hand prints in wet cement, which will be displayed in 'The Haye' garden.