A full-sized, all-weather synthetic turf football pitch and a multi-use games area (MUGA) have been added to the sports facilities at Great Notley Country Park, Braintree.

The £360,000 facility was co-funded by Essex County Council, Braintree District Council, Great Notley Parish Council and the Football Foundation.

The pitches will serve the needs of Great Notley Football Club, alongside other clubs in the district. In addition, the 43m x 19m floodlit macadam MUGA, which replaces a smaller hard court area, will be available for schools, youth groups and companies to use for football and other sports such as netball, basketball and tennis.

Crime reduction charity Nacro will also provide sport-related services at the site.

Paul Thorogood, chief executive of the Football Foundation, said: "We warmly congratulate Braintree District and Essex County Councils alongside Great Notley Football Club and Essex County FA for their hard work and dedication in creating these new facilities.

"It is thanks to the funding from our partners the Premier League, The FA and Government that the Football Foundation exists to support this type of excellent project in Braintree."