THE diggers have arrived at Hulton Lane playing fields ready to kick-start work building four new football pitches.

The long-awaited £474,000 sports development will include changing rooms, toilets and a new car park.

Builders from the council will fully drain the site so that the new pitches — two for adults, one for youth football and one for juniors — can be used throughout the year.

It is also hoped that the pitches will be used by rounders players in the summer, and a multi-use games area is also proposed with funding from the programme.

The scheme is part of a £2 million investment into sports facilities across Bolton.

Cllr Nick Peel, cabinet member for environmental services at Bolton Council, said it was fantastic to see work start on the site off Hulton Lane.

He added: “We’re really excited to finally start work on this sports facility, which will offer year-round opportunities for both adults and young people to take part in sport.

“The further investment we will be making in draining other pitches, refurbishing tennis courts and creating cycle trails should mean that there is something to take part in for everyone across the borough.”

Hulton councillor Andy Morgan has been campaigning for investment into the playing fields for years.

He added: “It’s been a long time coming and we’re glad the time has now arrived.

“As ward councillors we’re very excited about the improvements and investments that are on the way.”

Bolton Council is also spending more than £600,000 across other playing fields, including drainage of pitches at Green Lane, Horwich; Leverhulme Park; Vicarage Road, Blackrod and Westhoughton Central Park as well as new changing rooms at Harper Green Playing Fields and Queens Park.

As part of the investment programme, the council will also be investing more than £300,000 in refurbishing tennis courts across the borough, more than £200,000 on new and refurbished multi-use games areas, about £150,000 on cycle trails and £60,000 on Bolton’s first outdoor gym.