A STATE-of-the-art sports pitch was given a special blessing when it was officially opened at a Worcester school.

Pupils and staff celebrated the unveiling of the £120,000 multi-use games area (MUGA) at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College.

Blakedown Sport and Play Company, overseen by Adrian Hutt Architects, began building the pitch at the start of the year after it was given planning approval by Worcester City Council last November.

The Rt Rev Mgr Timothy Menezes, vicar general in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, attended the Timberdine Avenue school for the occasion and conducted a short liturgy before blessing the pitch.

The official ribbon-cutting honours were then passed to Joanne Brennan and Elisabeth Hopkins – netball players from the Worcester Reds team.

Principal Sean Devlin said: “What a fantastic addition for our students and for the local community. Several organisations have already applied for lettings.”

Area leader for PE, Paul Coward, said: “It will provide additional play and practice areas for netball, soccer and hockey.

“We lose the use of the large sports hall during examinations season and at other times. The students are very excited and really want to get onto the MUGA and play games.”

Paid for through school funds, the MUGA will provide an alternative sports area for when the college’s sports hall is used for examinations and other events.

It can cater for a number of different sports including five-a-side football, hockey, netball, basketball and tennis. There are also plans for the pitch to be available for members of the community to hire.