AN INDOOR soccer complex at Durham City football club has been given the go-ahead.

Work on the £3.5m Soccarena scheme involving 14 six-a-side indoor soccer pitches on the latest artificial turf will start this year after detailed planning permission was granted last week.

The ambitious project is the idea of Durham City FC president and chairman Stuart Dawson, who is funding it himself.

Mr Dawson said: "The indoor pitches will be available for clubs, schools and individuals to hire for casual and league games.

"This development will guarantee the future of the football club. It will mean a lot more custom for our clubhouse."

Mr Dawson is developing the whole of his 23-acre Belmont site, for which he also has outline planning permission for a pub, hotel and other businesses.