A NEW sport facility at a school in Worcester has been officially opened.

Oasis Academy Warndon secured £30,000 of funding to develop the sport and play space on its site.

This came as part of Sport England’s £18m Primary School Facilities Fund, backed by the National Lottery.

The fund aims to drive more schools to provide outdoor play areas across the country.

Oasis Warndon, in Edgeworth Close, has built a new multi-purpose play space, which will be used at lunch times, for PE lessons and for after school sport.

The city’s Mayor Councillor Alan Amos was invited as the special guest to open the new space today (October 22).

After the ribbon was cut, the children got their first taste of sports action on the surface.

PE co-ordinator Dean Salisbury was successful in putting the bid in place and said the facility will be a real boost for the school.

Mr Salisbury said: "This new space offers an exciting and engaging area for our children.

"Physical activity is a vital part of children’s lives at Oasis Academy Warndon.

"They are bursting to start using it, so this opening today is a special moment."

Matthew Meckin, the principal of the academy, said: "This is a wonderful new space for our children and our community.

"It’s a superb achievement to secure the funding and provide such innovative facilities."

Nick Bitel, chair of Sport England, said: "Having the right space to play sport and be physically active as a child is vitally important.

"We are delighted to be investing this funding in Oasis Academy Warndon to improve the spaces that will give children the space to start enjoying PE and sport."

For more information about the academy, call 01905 453 530, email admin@oasiswarndon.org or visit oasisacademywarndon.org