A HEAD teacher today welcomed the decision to site a new football pitch at his school as a great move for the local community.

The facility will be built at Holy Trinity Primary School, Bank Top, Darwen, once work starts on the town's £11million health centre.

That is being created next to Darwen Leisure Centre, on what is currently a football pitch.

One of the concerns raised by residents about the scheme was where the football pitch would be relocated.

And council bosses hope the announcement, along with the fact that a new netball pitch will also be created at the school, will win over detractors.

School head Keith McDonald said: "It's great news that we are to get the pitch, not only for our children but for the community as a whole.

"It will be of great significance to other primary children and, of course, it will be open at night for members of the public.

"It's a great step towards integrating the school into the community and it's bang in the middle of town so it's easy to get to.

"But the site is far enough away from residents to not cause a problem."

The state-of-the-art pitch will boast floodlights and will be watched over by two security cameras linked to the school.

Mr McDonald said: "We have 408 pupils here and we do very well at sport.

"Thanks to our dedicated staff, we have a sports department we can be very proud of."

Kate Hollern, Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member for leisure, said: "We looked at a lot of sites around Darwen but chose Holy Trinity because it was the closest to the existing facility.

"The good news is that the school benefits from extra facilities during the day, while the community gets somewhere brand new to use at night.

"The netball pitch is an added bonus. Work should start before the end of the year."

Staff at Holy Trinity are currently waiting to learn if they have been awarded the prestigious Gold Mark sports award from the Sports Council.

It would be the only primary school in the borough to receive the accolade if it was successful.

Coun Dave Smith, of Sunnyhurst ward, said: "This is a very positive move for the school and the community as a whole."