CHICKERELL will boast a brand-new sports pavilion at Lower Way this summer after it was officially opened by West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin.

Mr Letwin was invited to the opening of the Town Council's sports pavilion by the Mayor and Mayoress of Chickerell, Councillor Ian and Dianne Gardner.

The pavilion cost £130,000, with more than half the money coming from a fund set up by developers of the Chickerell Downs estate.

Other grants for the project came from The Chickerell Village Green Trustees, The Foundation for Sports and Arts, West Dorset District Council and Chickerell's Contact Magazine.

Chickerell United FC, whose teams will use the new pavilion, helped to decorate the new building and facilities to meet the requirements of the Dorset FA. The pavilion will also be used for community functions and will be available for hire by organisations, clubs and individuals.

Tim Guarrachi presented a cheque for £1,000 collected by customers of the Turks Head Inn for furnishings and kitchen equipment for the pavilion. There were around 40 local residents at the opening and representatives from a number of the groups that helped make it possible.

Town Clerk Jim Prowse said: "They have worked tirelessly for a number of years to protect the field from residential development and raise funds to replace dilapidated changing rooms."