TWO new synthetic turf pitches are to help aspiring footballers in County Durham.

They will be at Roseberry Sports and Community College at Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, and Deerness Valley Comprehensive School, Ushaw Moor.

The schools teamed up with Durham County Council to make a joint bid for a grant from the Football Foundation, the UK's largest sports charity.

The foundation has announced it is to give nearly £285,000 towards the cost of a pitch at Deerness Valley and almost £145,000 towards a pitch at Roseberry.

Pam Turner, director of PE and sport at Roseberry, said: "The new training pitch will help the college increase its commitment to the community by not only providing better sports facilities, but also catering for the increasing trend for greater female participation in the sport.

"Together with high quality coaching and management of the project, the facility will increase the participation and development of our young people in sport and give us a positive opportunity to strengthen our links with others who deliver football in our community."

The Deerness Valley project, which is still subject to planning permission, will cost £435,000 and is for a 102m by 65m pitch while at Roseberry, there will be a 60m by 40m pitch costing a total of £220,000.

The floodlit pitches will mean that players of all ages will be able to use the same standard of training facilities as Premiership superstars