A sports facility for schoolchildren and the local community was officially opened in Darlington yesterday.

The £75,000 multi-use games area at Alderman Leach Primary School is one of ten to be built in Darlington with money from the National Lottery.

The floodlit area will be used for a variety of sports, including netball, tennis, and basketball, as well as fitness activities.

The area will be used by pupils in lessons and for after-school activities and will be available for use by residents of the new West Park development.

The money will also fund up to four hours of expert coaching each week for two years in a range of sports chosen by the school.

The aim of the funding is to promote sport and healthy living by ensuring that communities have access to use high-quality sports facilities.

The multi-use games areas also help to promote the extended school projects, which aim to open up school buildings for use before and after school by pupils and local residents.

Chris McEwan, Darlington Borough Council's cabinet member for children's services, said: "The facilities will help to put the school firmly in the heart of the West Park development. The multi-use games area provides excellent sporting facilities for everyone in the area to use."