EXMOOR youngsters were among the first in the queue to try out the facilities when the new all-weather sports pitch at Moorland Hall, Wheddon Cross, was officially opened at the weekend.

The opening was the culmination of four years of hard work and fundraising, which was kick-started by West Somerset District Council's former sports development officer, Colin Johnston, in 1998.

The £41,000 project was funded by a £30,000 grant from Sport England, together with an anonymous donation and grants from West Somerset District Council and Wyvern Waste.

The all-weather pitch can be used for tennis, netball, basketball and five-a-side football and can even be used after dark thanks to a set of floodlights.

Pictured on the pitch are, from the left, at the back, West Somerset district Cllr Jenny David, Mr Johnston, project leader Eric Carbull, West Somerset district Cllr Roger Webber, project secretary Enid Mantin, and in front Emma, Lucy and Claire Pugsley and Jacob and Stephanie Worrall.

Photo: Steve Guscott.