A new £800,000 multi-use games area (MUGA) has been officially opened by Northern Ireland social development minister Margaret Ritchie in the Sandy Row area of Belfast.

The facility, which received £758,749 from the Department for Social Development and £30,950 from Big Picture Developments, has been built on land provided by Belfast City Council and will be maintained in conjunction with Sandy Row Community Forum. It is hoped that the new MUGA, which includes areas for football and basketball, as well as changing facilities, will increase participation and the development of physical and social activities in the local area.

Ritchie said: "Years of effort by the Sandy Row community have culminated in the construction of these state of the art facilities, which will help meet the recreational and sporting needs of the community. "It is important that we all continue to work towards meeting the needs of those who live in disadvantaged areas and those who do not."