A new purpose-built cricket facility has opened in Birmingham as part of the Urban Cricket initiative.

The new facility, the third of five sites planned under the scheme, has transformed a disused area of the city's Highgate Park into a permanent space for children to play cricket. Playgrounds at five schools in the Birmingham area have also been redeveloped into Urban Cricket Zones as part of the initiative.

The Urban Cricket arena was designed by Club Design and constructed by AMB Sports, while the playground facilities were designed and constructed by Permaplay.

England cricketer, Ian Bell, said: "Initiatives such as npower Urban Cricket give youngsters the chance to get out there and play the game. It's going to make a real difference to the local community and will hopefully produce more first class cricketers from the Birmingham area."

The npower Urban Cricket scheme is a grassroots project run in conjunction with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and since its launch it has distributed over 60,000 kits to children across the UK. The latest development has been carried out in partnership with Birmingham City Council and Warwickshire Cricket Board.

Councillor Ray Hassall, cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture at Birmingham City Council, said: "The arena at Highgate Park is a real benefit to the city. It adds to the local facilities we already have and will help young people lead more active lifestyles."

Ian Bell's England colleague, spin bowler Monty Panesar opened the first npower Urban Cricket facility in south London last year, and the second, in Sheffield, was opened in April.