OLYMPIC medallist Samantha Murray went to Witton Park to bring a touch of class to cutting the first sod of turf for the new state-of-the-art home for Blackburn Harriers and Athletics Club and a community facility.

The modern pentathlon silver winner from London 2012 joined her club’s chairman Tony Wood, Blackburn with Darwen borough leader Kate Hollern and borough leisure boss Damian Talbot for the ‘ground breaking’ ceremony.

The £2.3m community athletics complex will include an indoor 60m sprint track, a dance studio, the first total resurfacing of the outdoor running track since 1984, improved drainage for the field events area including relocating the pole vault, covered spectator seating and a 45-station fitness suite with free weight area.