AN all weather pitch being upgraded during the school holidays will not be ready in time for the new term.

Leisure World is carrying our resurfacing work on the artificial turf pitch at its sports centre in Tiptree.

Attempts are being made to upgrade to a Fifa recognised standard.

It is hoped the pitch at Thurstable School, which is used by pupils and the public, will be completed within seven weeks but with work only just starting it is likely to be closed until the end of the September.

The aim is to replace the floodlit facility with a new base and specialist rubber crumb pitch suitable for all ages.

Colchester Council, which is leading the project at the Maypole Road school, has not revealed how much it will cost.

Cllr Annie Feltham said: "Colchester Council is committed to investing in its facilities to encourage grassroots sports clubs and increase the participation in sports.

“As a well-used and much loved facility, the playing surface in Tiptree had become worn. It is being replaced with the latest standard artificial grass, which will be mean a higher quality surface that is easier to play on.

“Based on previous years, the period between August and mid-September is the time when the pitch is least used and we have chosen to carry the work out during this period to minimise disruption.”

Once complete, the pitch will continue to be used by the school during the day in the week, and available to the general public during the evenings and weekends.