WEEKS of work is now underway to build a brand new £750,000 football pitch in Halstead for residents to enjoy.

Halstead leisure Centre on Colne Road is set boast a new 3G all weather artificial football pitch.

Braintree Council has stumped up more than £750,000 for the pitch after successfully applying to the Football Foundation to provide the majority funding.

Councillors agreed to the plan during a Cabinet meeting on February 8 and subsequently at a Full Council meeting on Monday, February 22.

The council say the pitch will serve Halstead as well as its surrounding villages with Fusion Lifestyles taking charge of managing the pitch after it is built.

The new pitch will replace the current turf at the leisure centre, which is now more than 12 years old, with the old surface being upcycled for other purposes.

The council has also confirmed the pitch will be used by Halstead Town Youth Football Club who are in dire need of somewhere to play matches and train.

The work build the pitch is now underway with contractors stripping down the old pitch.

A council spokesman said: "Work began on the new Halstead football pitch on Monday, February 22 and will take approximately 16 weeks to complete, with work being carried out by TigerTurf and Mcardle Sports.

"The finished pitch will offer one full size football pitch with markings for junior soccer pitches.

"Halstead Town Youth FC will be one of the key community clubs to benefit from the pitch with 23 youth teams and four senior men’s teams and a women’s team.

"The use of the new pitch will now allow them to develop girl’s teams and Soccability teams as part of the facilities football development plan.”

Fusion’s Director of Operations, Anthony Cawley, added: “We are delighted that funding for the new 3G pitch has been approved.

"At Fusion we are passionate about meeting community needs, ensuring as many people as possible have access to health, fitness and sports facilities.

"This new pitch will allow us to offer even more options to local residents at a time when it is more important than ever to keep active and well.”