WORK is due to start at Hartlepool's Manor College of Technology to create an FA Grass Roots Football Development Scheme.

The £425,000 project is the first of its kind in Hartlepool and will include changing rooms, pitch improvements, car parking and perimeter fencing. It will be completed by January next year.

The Football Foundation awarded a grant of £342,000 towards the scheme while Manor College and the Owton Rossmere SRB Partnership are donating £43,000 and £40,000 respectively.

Manor College of Technology is already home to several local football teams, including St Francis 2000, Warrior FC and Arriva.

Hartlepool United FC also runs its centre of excellence from the site and Leeds United were recent visitors to the college.

Approval for the project was given last week by Councillor Robbie Payne, Hartlepool Borough Council's cabinet member for lifelong skills and learning.

He said: "It is tremendous to see a school facility being utilised like this for the wider community.

"Manor College has already done a great deal to provide facilities for grass roots football and this scheme will result in further improvements.

"I know that headteacher Alan White and his staff have been working for some considerable time putting this scheme together and I am delighted that their hard work and dedication has paid off."

Mr White said: "Our aim is to develop a love of the game and to provide very high quality changing facilities and playing surfaces for Hartlepool's boys and girls and the community in general.

"We want to discover more precious gems like our former pupil Adam Boyd. We are also going to develop girls' football which is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK."