AN ambitious plan to treble the size of Stoke Heath's recreation ground could provide sporty villagers with a new football pitch and basketball court.

Stoke Prior parish councillors have struck a deal to rent neighbouring land from the Croft Trust which will increase the grounds from one acre to three.

The extension will allow the council to put in another goalpost to make a complete, but not official-sized, football pitch as well as a basketball half-court, which could be extended to full-size later.

The Croft Trust currently rents the land to a farmer for grazing cows on a yearly basis.

Rent will cost the parish council £358 a year and councillors approved the expenditure at this month's meeting.

The main cost of the redevelopment will be about £2,600 to install the hard standing for the basketball hoop. Grants and donations are currently being sought to help pay for the work.

The expansion plan follows the renovation of play equipment at Stoke Prior's recreation ground, in Ryefields Road, partly paid for by Bromsgrove District Council.

Parish councillors hope they can continue a rolling programme of redevelopment by improving the play area in Stoke Works next year.

Council chairman Tony Friel said the rent represented excellent value for such a large plot of land.

He added: "We're delighted to have got a good deal which will provide important facilities for a growing population in the area."