Young footballers from across Wharfedale and Aireborough can look forward to honing their skills on a new £750,000 pitch.

Council chiefs have approved funding to create a floodlit, fenced artificial pitch at St Mary’s School, Menston, which will allow students and footballers from the wider community to play outside throughout the year.

Leeds City Council’s executive board rubber-stamped the £753,365 project and work could begin next month.

School sport co-ordinator and assistant School Sports Partnership development manager Barbara Pounder said: “This is absolutely fantastic news for us.

“It gives us more facilities for our curriculum and gives the children a chance to play on an all-weather surface.

“It’s also the start of something really important for the local community because as a sports college our facilities are used by a lot of young footballers in the area and from many other schools.

“The work could start as early as the end of August, so hopefully we’ll be having our first lessons on the new pitch at the end of January.”

Most of the funding is coming from a £350,000 Department for Children, Schools and Families grant and a £325,000 Football Foundation grant.

St Mary’s itself, which has Sports College status, is also contributing £76,865, with its partner community junior football clubs paying £1,500.

Councillor Graham Latty (Con, Guiseley and Rawdon) said: “In a time when we’ve got several schools who are, unfortunately, feeling the pinch it’s terrific to see a project worth more than £750,000 going ahead.

“The facilities will not only benefit pupils at St Mary’s but also aid the development of grass-roots football.”