WORK has started on a £710,000 project to improve a town's sports facilities.

Contractors have moved on to land between Bedale High School and the leisure centre to begin creating a £150,000 floodlit all-weather pitch.

The pitch will be suitable for five-a-side football, hockey, netball and tennis and will be available for use by the school and the public once it is completed in November.

Building work on the second phase of the project will begin next month.

It will include an extension to the fitness studio at the leisure centre, a new health and education centre and refurbishment of the changing rooms in the school sports hall.

The scheme received the go-ahead in July when a grant of £595,000 from the Big Lottery Fund was confirmed.

The new facilities will be used during the day, principally by Bedale High School, although all local primary schools will be encouraged to use them.

They will be available to the public in the evenings, during school holidays and at weekends.

Hambleton district councillor Neville Huxtable, the cabinet spokesman on health, said: "This scheme marks a milestone in a successful partnership between the school and the district council.

"It will improve educational and sporting opportunities for Bedale and the surrounding villages for people of all ages.

"Importantly, it should increase participation in physical activity which, given the importance the council attaches to health, will be a real bonus."

Graham Turner, headteacher at Bedale High School, said: "The school is pleased that after two years of planning this project is now under way.