A long awaited sports pitch will finally be built in a Lincolnshire village.

Witham St Hughs parish council is getting hold of the land earlier than planned so it can take advantage of a cash injection and build the sports ground.

It is hoping to build a sports pitch and youth shelter next to the community centre currently under construction, thanks to money from the county council's safer communities fund.

Member of the Witham St Hughs steering group Gill Finn said: "We have struggled with some anti-social behaviour because there is no provision for older children at the moment.

"This will give them somewhere to go and spend their time constructively.

"What is being built currently is an office space and changing rooms.

"The land that has been transferred to the parish council is for the youth element of Witham St Hughs.

"The parish have a grant for a court to be put on the site by the end of March."

The parish council got funding for the scheme from Lincolnshire County Council's safer communities project and the land handover was agreed by North Kesteven District Council, so work could begin as soon as possible.

The community complex, which is being built at the moment, is being funded by current landowners Strawsons which provided nearly £270,000 for the project.

Originally, NKDC planned to transfer the space for the sports court after the community centre was finished but it speeded up the process to help meet the funding deadline.

The parish council is going to build a hard pitch for football, hockey and basketball.