GRASSROOTS sport in Kidderminster has received a boost following the opening of King Charles I School’s new £205,000 artificial grass pitch.

Birmingham City Ladies defender and former England under-23 international Chelsea Weston opened the much-anticipated facility at the Comberton Road school on Wednesday.

The scheme was funded by a grant from the Football Foundation - a charity which receives money from the Premier League, the Football Association and the Government, via Sport England.

Headteacher Tim Gulliver said: “We are very grateful for the funding, support and guidance we have received from the foundation.

“The grant has enabled us to replace the 25-year-old sand-based pitch that is no longer fit for purpose with this stunning new state-of-the-art pitch that will benefit not only the students at King Charles but the Kidderminster community as a whole.”

The third generation (3G) pitch provides what is recognised as a top-quality surface for students, local football clubs and the community to train and play on.

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: “It is so rewarding to see this new facility completed and ready for use by the local community.

“Alongside the Worcestershire FA, King Charles has worked extremely hard to ensure this project has come to fruition and deserve great credit for its endeavours.”

He added the Kidderminster project was a “great example” of what the charity - which has awarded about 8,000 grants worth more than £420 million since 2000 - was doing for across the country.