WORK has started to create a children's football pitch - using soil from sugar beet.

The pitch at Lingerfield Recreation Ground, near Knaresborough, will become the home of Scotton Scorchers Junior Football Club and Scotton Lingerfield Primary School.

As well as building the pitch, Harrogate Borough Council is working with the parish council to develop the remainder of the recreation ground as a country park.

The two councils raised £50,000 towards the project.

The remainder of the money came from the Football Foundation and a waste recycling environment grant.

Soil for the pitch will come from sugar beet grown in York by British Sugar.

The soil washed off the sugar beet after it has been picked is sandy, which makes it perfect for use when laying sports pitches.

Richard Wray, the chairman of Scotton Parish Council, said the pitch was a valuable resource for the local community.

Councillor Pat Jones, council cabinet member for cultural services, said: "We are extremely pleased that, by working in partnership with the parish council, we can develop this large area of public open space in this way to make better provision for the local community.

"The need for a football pitch in this area has long been recognised, but it has been extremely difficult finding a suitable location and we obviously had to get over the financial obstacles.

"When completed, it will be one of the finest pitches in the district and an invaluable resource for the club and the school."