WORK has begun to create two new training pitches for Mowden Park Rugby Club at The Northern Echo Arena.

The former Darlington FC stadium has been rejuvenated by the arrival of the rugby club which is in the process of transforming the ill-fated venue into a vibrant sporting hub.

The creation of the fully drained and floodlit pitches is the next stage in the venue’s ongoing development.

Arena manager Danny Brown said: “The pitches will be built to RFU standards and the floodlights will mean that we can use them to train in the evening, and to play evening games if we have to.

“Because we have 19 teams, we have had to use facilities at various schools in Darlington and we do spend a lot of money hiring out other venues.

“It will be good to get us all under one roof and within our own club community.”

The pitches are being built on part of 17-acres of land adjacent to the stadium bought by the club from Darlington Borough Council.

They are expected to be complete and fully functional by October, after which the club is likely to expand its facilities further.

Mr Brown said: “This is the first phase and once the first two pitches are up and running and everything is going ok, we will look at creating more pitches.”

Mr Brown declined to disclose how much the development is costing the club, saying only that the investment is “considerable”.

Mowden Park moved to the 25,000-seater stadium in February this year after selling its previous home on Darlington’s Yiewsley Drive to a housing developer.