A NEW top-class synthetic turf hockey pitch costing £180,000 has been laid at a Worcester sports complex.

The new sand-dressed pitch at Nunnery Wood Sports complex will provide the city with a surface that meets the toughest criteria for all-weather hockey and enables players of all ages and abilities to get the most out of their game.

The pitch was laid thanks to £75,000 worth of funding from Worcester City Council, around the same amount donated between Nunnery Wood High School and Worcester VI Form College and £30,000 from Sport England's Community Club Development Programme (CCDP).

Steve Town, Regional Director, Sport England said: "Providing quality facilities in local settings can only help to make hockey more popular, help talent to flourish and help us get more people taking part in sport."

Mary Travers, of Worcester Hockey Club, which is based at Nunnery Wood, said: "The much improved playing surface has brought real benefits to the whole hockey community in the area and our club members have the advantage of a quality surface that improves the game and helps develop skill levels."