THE finishing touches have been added to plans to create a footballing centre of excellence in Durham.

Durham City AFC has finalised its plans to develop eight indoor six-a-side pitches, complete with the type of state-of-the-art surfaces used by top clubs such as Barcelona and Newcastle.

The organisation hopes to nurture young talent in the area with its new facilities and attract people from across the region.

It will be based at Durham City's ground on the Belmont Industrial estate, and in addition to the eight pitches it will have three changing rooms, one of which should be for female players. It will also have a steam room, a classroom where children can be coached and an area for disabled people.

But the highlight will be the springy synthetic 'turf' used on the pitches, which will be made up of granules of rubber, allowing players to wear studded boots and preventing back injuries sometimes caused by the impact of playing on a hard indoor surface.

Club chairman Stewart Dawson visited dozens of top clubs in Britain and Europe to find the best surface.

He said: "We'll be the first club in the North-East to have this kind of pitch open to the public.

"We'll run leagues and classes in the evening and during the day we will run coaching classes for schools and all sorts of FA coaching classes. Hopefully it'll be up and running soon. I can't wait until it's open and busy with people."

At a meeting at the club on January 17 the plans were finalised. A proposed first floor function room was dropped on cost grounds, which means the club will need to seek revised planning permission from council planners, but Mr Dawson hopes to push ahead with the building work as soon as possible.

The facilities will be funded entirely by the club, which sold its New Ferens Park ground, near The Sands in Durham and moved to the now named Archibalds Stadium in November 1995.