DELIGHTED youngsters will be able to play football on a more skin-friendly surface after a £330,000 artificial pitch was opened in Thundersley.

The seven-a-side pitch, at Cedar Hall School, has thousands of plastic blades of grass layered with springy rubber to reduce the chance of grazes and bruises.

The Astroturf, which can also be used as two five-a-side pitches, is set to be open to the community, providing clubs with a year-round training facility.

Peter Whelan, headteacher of Cedar Hall, which caters for children with specialist educational needs, said: “We are delighted our pupils are able to play football all year round at school. “Our research showed there was a real lack of such facilities in the area for the local community too.

“Youth football clubs as well as adult teams are able to make use of it during the evenings and weekends.”

The new pitch cost £331,000, with the Football Foundation contributing almost £90,000 towards the cost.

Funded by the Premier League, the FA, and the Government via Sport England, the Football Foundation is the nation’s largest sports charity.

Paul Thorogood, the charity’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted Cedar Hall School and the community will have access to these fantastic facilities.”

Other contributions were £100,000 from Essex County Council, £90,000 from the Veolia Pitsea Marshes Trust, £10,000 from charitable trust Fowler, Smith and Jones, and £60,000 raised by the school itself.

The pitch was officially unveiled on Saturday, at a grand opening attended by Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris and the borough’s mayor Jackie Govier.

Further details of how to hire the pitch can be found at www.cedarhall.essex.sch.uk