THE diggers have moved in as work has started on building a new multi-million pound sports hall and all-weather pitch at Chipping Sodbury School.

The new facilities will be state-of-the-art and will incorporate cutting-edge technology so pupils can play a variety of sports throughout the year.

Headteacher Philip Lidstone said: "We are delighted to have now started building work on this exciting project which will benefit both students and the community."

The school had been bidding for funding for a new sports hall for years and South Gloucestershire Council and the school have now invested £3.7million in the project. Sports charity The Football Foundation is also backing the scheme with a grant.

The project will see the creation of a new hall, which has been designed to accommodate Futsal – the fast growing Brazilian-style football game.

There will also be an artificial ‘third generation’ grass pitch, which will be floodlit to maximise how often it can be used, created from the latest man-made materials and will be the closest to real grass ever seen.

A turf-cutting ceremony to mark the start of the building work was held yesterday.

Cllr Sheila Cook, executive member for children and young people at the council, said: "The council, Chipping Sodbury School and The Football Foundation are investing significantly in developing first-rate sporting facilities to promote healthy and active lifestyles.

"By working together, we plan to create a fantastic community resource that both pupils and the wider local population can make use of.

"This development really is a big boost for the local area."

She added: "Work beginning on this sports hall is yet more evidence of our determination to improve sport and leisure facilities in the local area and comes hot on the heels of major refurbishments of both Yate Leisure Centre and Yate Outdoors Sports Complex."

Until now, Chipping Sodbury has lacked sports and training facilities but it is hoped this project and improvements to The Ridings pitches, on Wickwar Road, will encourage more youngsters to get involved in local sports teams.