A RECREATION ground in Nelson, which was closed on health and safety grounds, is to get a £40,000 facelift, it was announced today.

The site at Netherfield Road -- dubbed 'the most popular in Pendle' -- was closed by Pendle Council in July this year to allow an assessment of the work required to bring it up to scratch.

The site, mainly used for five-a-side football and volleyball, had a worn surface and fencing, and floodlights needed replacing following heavy use by various teams and some vandalism.

Now the council has announced that improvement work to the site will start in late October and are confident the ground will re-open in mid-November.

Contractors Parkdale Play and Leisure, of Skipton, will remove the current fencing, which has fallen into disrepair, and carry out resurfacing work before installing better fences.

A basketball facility will also be installed during the work to expand the facilities offered at the site for young people.

Coun Mohammed Iqbal, chair of Pendle Council's Nelson Area Committee, said: "I am pleased that a start date has been agreed and within weeks local young people will be able to use the site again. It is by far the most popular multi-purpose games area in Pendle. Once the work is completed it will provide a much better facility."