A CONTROVERSIAL school sports pitch, which split the opinion of villagers when it was going through the planning process, was officially opened yesterday.

Proposals for the floodlit multi-use games area at Middleton Tyas school, near Scotch Corner, North Yorkshire, met with stiff resistance from some residents who feared noise and light pollution.

It eventually won planning permission in March 2005 after an 18-month wrangle and a court challenge.

A revised scheme, which moved the play area further from houses, was approved in spite of continued opposition.

Yesterday, Bernadette Jones, assistant director for strategic services at North Yorkshire County Council's children's and young people's services department, cut a ribbon to declare the pitches, which are also available for community use, open.

Pupils demonstrated the sports and activities for which the £150,000 area is used to about 70 guests, mainly those who had helped raise the £30,000 which the community needed to attract the remaining funding from the Big Lottery, Yorventure, the Co-op and local authorities.

Headteacher John Ridley said the pitches had been created after a long struggle.

"Although this is the official opening, the multi-use games area has been open now for over a year with no complaints," he said.

"People have been very positive about it and we have had a lot of goodwill.

"There is good use of the area, particularly by families, and an ex-pupil provides some tennis coaching regularly."

After-school hockey, football and tennis are also played on the area, which is open until 9pm.

Mr Ridley said he hoped more local people would make use of the facilities, which have two changing rooms with showers and disabled access. Details are available from the school.

"We are so lucky to have the area because you would normally associate this kind of facility with a secondary school," he said.

"It is being used regularly, but there is potential for greater use from members of the community and neighbouring villages."

The opening ended with strawberries and cream and a 15-minute fun run for children.