THERE was plenty to cheer about as work got under way on the main phase of a £2.6m sports complex in Hartlepool.

Headteacher Stuart Priestley took to the controls of a digger to cut the first sod, marking the start of work on the centre, at Brierton School's site, in Brierton Lane.

When finished next June, it will provide top-class training and competition facilities for both the school and wider community.

Mr Priestley said: "It was a very proud day, both for the school and for local people as a whole. It is a dream come true for us.

"The new sports complex will widen the range of facilities available to the community and will open the door to a whole host of exciting opportunities and challenges for people of all ages."

More than £1.7m of the total funding is National Lottery money from Sport England.

Judith Rasmussen, regional director for Sport England North-east, said: "It is tremendous news that, after months of hard work behind the scenes, the actual construction work on the main phase of the new sports complex is now under way.

"When it is finished, it will provide fantastic sports facilities for both the school and local community."