NEW five-a-side football pitches will be built in Great Harwood after funding worth £225,000 was agreed.

The all-weather pitches, enclosed in wire cages, will entertain youngsters across the borough within the next 12 months after councillors agreed to fund work to build them on land near the town’s health centre and close to Mercer Hall Leisure Centre.

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It is hoped the investment will provide a vital boost to the coffers of the Hyndburn Leisure Trust as council funding decreases.

Leisure boss Cllr Ken Moss said: “It’s good news. The pitches have been approved and will be built on land that is not being used for a good purpose.

“It will be built in the next 12 months and will be open for booking by anybody in the borough.

“The leisure trust is getting less money off us but we are trying to fill that gap for them.”

In a budget report, finance boss Cllr Gareth Molineux, who also represents Great Harwood, said: “This year we intend to undertake major investment in our leisure facilities to encourage an active participation in exercise and create healthier lifestyles across Hyndburn, recognising the area has major challenge around the health of the population and early mortality rates.”

Hyndburn Leisure is a charitable trust formed in 2001 to managed the council’s leisure facilities: Hyndburn Leisure Centre, Mercer Hall Leisure Centre, Norden Sports Centre, and Wilsons Athletics Track.

In 2006, the trust’s remit expanded to include the borough’s entertainment and community venues.

Last month, the Lancashire Telegraph reported how bosses at the trust plan to bid for funding from Sport England to put on matches on the new all-weather, floodlit pitch at Hyndburn Leisure Centre, in Henry Street, Church.

The previous artificial grass pitch was replaced with a new 3G pitch in a £165,000 project last year.

The new pitch has markings for junior and adult football, hockey and rugby.

Interim chief executive, Steve Tanti, said: “As far as combating anti-social behaviour is concerned, it’s something that has been piloted in Manchester and Merseyside.

“We are the first in East Lancashire to try this.”