Work is well underway on Longhoughton Community Development Trust's (LVDT) ambitious project to build the high-class venue – which will boast three football pitches – one artificial and two grass – with sports changing facilities and a general purpose community building at the rear of Park Road.

The multi-purpose facility – named Westfield Park – is due to be completed by mid-September.

The initiative promises to be a great community success story initially built on the outstanding achievements of the village's football club Longhoughton Rangers.

The facility will enable grass-roots football to expand across the county as well as providing an all-weather surface on which participants in other sports can train.

The community project is not restrained to sport and will provide a permanent home for all existing community groups to meet.

It also secures a place for socially-isolated groups such as the elderly and teenagers to meet.

Ed Ford, of LVDT, said: "It is all going very well. The construction process is absolutely on schedule and we are on budget. I see no reason why we wont complete by the scheduled time of September 21."

>> Longhoughton Rangers, which has been named County Charter Standard Development Club of the Year for 2009, is holding a number of trials for its U13 and U16 teams next week.

The U13s will be put through their paces on Wednesday, June 17, 6.30pm–8pm, and Saturday, June 20, 9.30am–11am. The U16s will meet on Thursday, June 18, 6.30pm–8pm, and Saturday, June 20, 11am–12.30pm.

The sessions will be held on the existing facility in Crowlea Road, at the Longhoughton Village pitch.