CALNE Town Council have been handed the reins of a £500,000 council-funded artificial all weather sports pitch which has been officially opened at Beversbrook.

Wiltshire Council leader Baroness Jane Scott of Bybrook met Calne mayor Tom Rounds to cut the ribbon for the 3G pitch, which has already had more than 900 hours of football played on it.

Football clubs and academies are flocking to use the 3G turf, consisting of artificial grass blades supported by a thin base layer of sand and an infill of rubber crumb, used by professional sports teams across the world.

Speaking at the handover on Wednesday (oct 19) Baroness Scott said: "I am delighted to be here to mark the official handover of the all-weather pitch at Beversbrook. Like the sports being played here, making this happen has been a team effort between Wiltshire Council and Calne Town Council.

"We have made a significant investment here but in my view a really worthwhile one that reflects Wiltshire Council's commitment to improving local community facilities across the county.

"We are all aware that keeping active helps us all to improve our general health and wellbeing and I understand that this really impressive facility is already encouraging people of all ages to be more active."

During the evening, children were able to try out bubble football on the new pitches before Pro Soccer Academy members arrived to begin their training.

Kevin Whitehorn, Beversbrook Sports and Community Facility manager, said: "It is a great asset to the town, especially in the winter months when the pitches can get waterlogged as we will be able to offer somewhere to play. Clubs are currently training on the pitches most nights and it is fully booked except for a couple of odd slots during the day."

Wiltshire Council has also installed a toucan crossing on the A3102 to improve safe pedestrian access to Beversbrook at a cost of around £100,000.