The new multi-use games area (MUGA) at Burnfoot Community School in Hawick has been officially opened.

The MUGA is the culmination of a partnership project between the school and Burnfoot Community Futures 'Fitba!" project which gained more than 10,000 phone votes on The Big Lottery Fund’s People’s Millions television programme last year.

The project was awarded a £50,000 grant to transform part of the school grounds into a MUGA to be enjoyed by the school and the surrounding community.

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Sharon Rees, Community Learning and Development Worker for Youth Work in Hawick put the bid together and is delighted with the end result: "It is great to see the multi-use games area built as the young people and the whole community worked very hard to get it. It has most certainly proved to be a great asset for Burnfoot.

She added: "The young people love it. The pitch is regularly used by the community and the school both during the day and night."

In 2006, a consultation took place within the community, guided by a local steering group, that brought together groups of people from all aspects of the community. This highlighted a need to increase provision for young people, with the highest priority being an all weather pitch.

Scottish Borders Council (SBC) managed the pre-project and construction phases of the project. Final costs were £67,500 with SBC contributing £17,500.

(GK/KMcA)