Churchill fields back on dry land

READY to open . . . Councillor Barbara Beeley at Churchill Playing Fields

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SADDLEWORTH’s largest community sports field will reopen with a sports festival on Saturday after 18 months of work to overcome flooding problems.

Organised by the Saddleworth and Lees District Executive, the event, at Churchill playing fields in Greenfield, will show off the new layout and improved changing rooms at the 7.8-hectare site.

Saturday’s free event begins at 10am, followed by an official launch at noon. A fun run at 12.30pm will raise funds for a defibrillator, which will be kept on site.

The work has been completed with grants of almost £400,000 from local clubs and national organisations such as the RFL and Football Foundation.

Councillor Barbara Beeley, chairman of the Saddleworth and Lees District Executive, said: “I am thrilled we have finally achieved the refurbishment, despite dreadful weather last year which set us back.”

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “It is so rewarding to see this new facility completed and ready for use by the local community.”