YOUNG footballers will be able to play whatever the weather thanks to a new synthetic pitch.

The 3G all-weather surface has been built at Ebac Northern League club Chester-le-Street Town FC’s ground at Chester Moor, beside the A167 road to Durham.

The new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) is floodlit and will be used by the club’s various youth teams and ladies’ sides.

The club’s youth section was formerly known as Riverside FC until it joined the adult club in 2011.

Until the MUGA came into use, the various age groups used pitches elsewhere in the area, including the Riverside.

Chairman Joe Burlison said the £115,000 scheme was funded by Sport England and Durham County Council and was part of a series of improvements that could see a new clubhouse being built.

“We are very pleased to be opening this new facility," said Mr Burlison. "It’s a very exciting time for us, being stage one of a bigger programme which will hopefully provide a new clubhouse. We really hope people in the area will take advantage of this.

“It will help all age groups to improve their skills and abilities across a range of activities and provide somewhere to train, even in poor weather.”

The MUGA is available for hire and can be used for different sports.

The county’s Chester-le-Street and District Area Action Partnership (AAP) contributed £25,000 from the neighbourhood budgets of Councillors Katherine Henig and Keith Davidson.

Councillors Tracie Smith, Simon Henig, Lawson Armstrong and Peter May also contributed £4,000 to the scheme.

Visit www.chester-le-street-townfc.co.uk or e-mail keith@greener82.fsnet.co.uk for hire details.