Schoolchildren are celebrating this week after work began on an all-weather sports pitch which will be hired out for use by Uttlesford sports clubs.

RA Butler Academy, in South Road, Saffron Walden, secured ­planning permission for the £100,000 scheme earlier this month and the hope is it will be complete by the summer term.

School business manager Claire Hopkins said the pitch, which will cater for sports such as football, netball, hockey and basketball, would enhance sporting provision at the school.

She told the Reporter: “We’re quite excited because we’ll be one of only a handful of primary schools in the area to have a facility like this.

“It’s great for our children and builds on a move to increase sports provision, which comes on the back of the hiring of a new sports ­co-ordinator last September.

“The school will be able to use the pitch whatever the weather, both for lessons and clubs, and the facility will also benefit the wider community.

“In time we hope to grow our links with local sports clubs by offering them the chance to rent the pitch, so we’d like to encourage anyone ­interested to get in touch.”

Money for the project came from the Education Funding Agency’s Academies Capital Maintenance Fund.

Work got under way last week and is likely to be finished during the Easter holidays.

Sports clubs interested in hiring the pitch have been asked to contact the school.