A NEW £30,000 sports facility is set to be put in place after a successful lottery bid, it has been announced.

Last year vandals torched the nearby playground at Newfield Drive, in Highercroft, Blackburn, but organisers said they were determined to make the new venture a success.

The current multi-use games area, which includes a fenced off artificial-surface football pitch, will be rebuilt to provide a high-quality facility for young people in the area.

And facilities at the multi-use games area could be up and running before the end of the year for playing football, basketball and other ball games.

The cash has been secured by members of the Higher Croft Action Group.

Christine Robinson, the chair of the group, said: “When we first formed the group back in July 2008 our main aim was to get the kids off the street, which inspired me to apply for the grant, little knowing that we, as a group, would be successful.

“This investment, by regenerating the MUGA, will provide the Higher Croft community with a resource which is in demand and will provide young people and adults with a space in which to exercise and socialise.”

Last July a £50,000 play area was unveiled in Newfield Road but in October it was badly damaged by fire in an arson attack.

Work is now taking place to renovate the items damaged in the blaze.

The Newfield Drive Multi-Use Games project has been funded through the Community Spaces programme of the Big Lottery Fund.