A BOLTON club believe their new pavilion and 3G playing surface will be great addition to the community.

Work is gathering at speed at Bolton Lads and Girls Club as their Hacken Lane base looks a shadow of its former self with the grass pitches replaced by construction vehicles work on the new 3G pitch.

Meanwhile, workers expect the new £1.7 million building to be completed ahead of schedule by the end of December.

This will comprise of four changing rooms with segregated shower and toilet facilities catering for 16 people each, a disabled changing room and two smaller changing rooms with showers for two match officials.

It will have a full-size 3G pitch installed with flood lights along with redevelopment of the existing natural turf pitches.

Andrew Tower, who is charge of the facility, is excited about the progress of the project which started in April.

He said: "It is amazing the progress that has been made on the site and you get the sense of the ambition of the club.

"It shows the club are investing in the community and young people as a whole.

"We are creating links with people and teams from the area.

"Local teams and groups and organisations will be able to hire out our facilities and we are attracting bookings.

"It is a great opportunity for the Lads and Girls Club to improve our visibility and give our message to support young people.

"Hacken Lane has been their old home and we hope they take pride in it as their new home."

The new pavilion will have better facilities, more space and more changing rooms for the 3,000 eight to 21-year-olds who use the club every week for their football matches.

It will also extend the club's sports on offer to include taster sessions in cricket, hockey and rounders and looks to increase and sustain sports participation in Bolton.

Mike Peers, Vice Chairman and Project Manager for the new development said: "The inception of this world class facility has relied on the generous support of national and local financial support.

"In particular Bolton council, Sport England, the Football Foundation, and local businesses including AO Smile Foundation, Warburton’s and Peers Steelwork have helped to make the delivery of the 3G pitches and pavilion a reality."