WORK has finished on a new 3G pitch at a secondary school.

The facility at Westhoughton High School, funded by Bolton Council, can now be used by school teams and residents in time for the summer holidays.

The authority is hoping the pitch will promote health and wellbeing mainly among both young people and adults.

Westhoughton High School headteacher Philip Hart said: “Our students and the community have been asking for years for the all-weather pitch to be replaced so we are delighted and very grateful that this fabulous facility has been made available.

“What the new pitch brings is consistency, as it can be used all year round in all weathers for a multitude of activities.

“The first week of use has transformed lessons and we are in the process of revamping our curriculum provision from September to ensure that we gain the maximum benefit from the new pitch.

“We are also looking forward to being able to offer a full programme of fixtures with other local schools moving forward.”

Bolton Council’s cabinet member for youth, culture and sport Cllr John Byrne said he was “delighted”.

He said: “This new pitch will provide modern, high quality facilities for the school and local community teams in the area.

“We hope that this and the other new 3G pitches will attract more people to get involved in sport, as well as improving health and wellbeing across the borough.”

The pitch was built by local company GreenFields, responsible for many 3G facilities across the country,

It was constructed on an existing shale pitch and is the first of three new pitches that are being created as part of the council’s £1.5million capital funding.

These pitches will add to the six 3G pitches already approved or operating in Bolton.

These are Ladybridge Football Club, ESSA Academy, Bolton Arena, St Catherine’s Academy, Bolton Lads and Girls Club and one more in development at Ladybridge High School.

All of the new facilities will be managed by Bolton Community Leisure Trust and the pricing structure will be similar to the one adopted at the 3G pitch at Bolton Lads and Girls Club in Spa Road.

The same structure is also proposed for the facility at Ladybridge High School.

There is also a proposal to build a 3G pitch at Horwich Leisure Centre, although a final decision on that is yet to be made.

The potential pitch in Horwich has caused controversy among the sporting community as it would be built on the current astroturf pitch.

Horwich Hockey Club claimed it would have to find another home, as hockey cannot be played on a 3G pitch.