New pitch will make this one of the best places to play hockey

The surface, which will also be used for football at Nunnery Wood Sports Centre, on Spetchley Road, will be paid for by a variety of backers.

The city council has agreed to fund £150,000 of the cost before getting half of that money back from Nunnery Wood High School and Worcester Sixth Form College, which share the site.

Sport England is stumping up the final £40,000 to ensure the surface is the best possible quality for Worcester Hockey Club, who play in the national hockey league.

It will be the first time that major improvements have been made to the pitch for

12 years.

A specialist company tested the surface for wear and tear last year and found a new one was badly needed.

Worcester City Council cabinet member for safer and stronger communities Coun Francis Lankester said: "It was a surface that was guaranteed for 10 years and has been used for 12.

"A study by a specialist found that it now needs to be replaced. We are happy to be funding the costs, of which our partners will refund half, while we have confirmation in a letter that Sport England are paying £40,000 for the better surface."

Assistant director Wynne Rogers said: "The extra money from Sport England means we can have a sand-dressed surface rather than a sand-filled one.

"The difference is that it gives us a higher-performing surface for hockey, which is very important as the hockey team which plays on it performs in the league and needs a quality surface.

"The college and school are also quite strong on hockey, so it's really good news. People can still play football on it as well."

Nunnery Wood has become one of the most popular places in Worcester to play sport.

Along with sister site St John's Sports Centre on Swanpool Walk, it was recognised as the highest-scoring dual-use facility - a sports centre attached to an institution, such as a school, that is also used by the public - in England in a national assessment scheme conducted by the Government.