WORK on Chester's new £1.8 million community sports hub is nearing completion, with the facility set to open in early 2022.

King George V Sports Hub in Blacon will feature a full-size floodlit artificial grass pitch and a clubhouse providing changing accommodation, kitchen, office and training room.

Chester FC Community Trust and Cheshire West and Chester Council have worked in partnership to develop the scheme, which was awarded a grant of £1 million from the Premier League, The FA and Government's Football Foundation.

The Duke of Westminster's Westminster Foundation committed a grant of £520,000 over five years alongside additional funding from the council, Avenue Services and Ursula Keyes Trust.

Construction began over the summer and is expected to be completed in January, with the sports hub opening to the public soon after.

Blacon councillors Carol Gahan, Shelia Little and Trish Richards visited the site and were delighted to see the progress made.

"This is a fantastic project that will have huge benefits for Blacon and the wider community," said the councillors.

"It has been so pleasing to see how the partners have demonstrated determination in working together to overcome obstacles and deliver this wonderful new facility for the community."

The sports hub will become the base for the Community Trust's charitable activities, as well as providing facilities for training and matches for local clubs, leagues and groups.

The second phase will see the existing grass pitches at King George V Playing Fields benefit from a programme of improvements and refurbishment of the existing pavilion.

The Community Trust is continuing to raise funds for phase two and donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/campaign/kgvsportshub.