WORK is expected to start on a country park which will provide council-run sports facilities for two North Yorkshire villages.

Harrogate Borough Council has appointed a contractor to lay a new football pitch for Lingerfield and Scotton, on the edge of Knaresborough.

The project will also include a golf driving range and a children's nursery.

Harrogate Borough Council's cabinet member for leisure services, Pat Jones, said: "This is an exciting development.

"Funding is now in place with £50,000 raised by the borough council and the parish council, enhanced by grants from the Football Association and a Waste Recycling Environment grant."

When the football pitch is finished - which is expected to be September- it will be the home ground for the recently-formed Scotton Scorchers Junior Football Club as well as Lingerfield Primary School.

Coun Jones said: "The need for a football pitch in the area has long been recognised but it has been extremely difficult finding a suitable location.

"The decision to create a country park provided the first viable opportunity."