Work is starting this week to improve two Maryport football pitches.

Allerdale council has commissioned CLS Sports to carry out the work at Milltoft and Ennerdale Road.

The work has been promised since the building of the town's Lidl supermarket.

The improvements include regrading the surface of the pitches to provide better playing conditions and installing new goal posts.

Drainage improvements will also be made, with access improved for players and ground maintenance to ensure the pitches stay in great condition.

New fences will be erected around both pitches, helping to keep them clean and free from animal damage.

There will be one new pitch at Milltoft, and the area at Ennerdale Road will be widened so that is can also accommodate two junior pitches.

The work, costing around £100,000, is expected to last six to eight weeks with the new pitches ready for the next football season.

Funding is coming from Lidl as part of the planning commitments from their development in the town.

The Allerdale Investment Partnership, which is a partnership between the council and private investors to develop the council’s surplus land, was behind the development of the Lidl supermarket.

Michael Heaslip, the council's executive member responsible for environmental quality, said: “It’s great to see the sports clubs in Maryport benefit from this investment.

"I’m sure these pitches will probably be the best in the area once the work is completed.

"Sport is so important in our communities and I’m sure this work will go some way to combat obesity and the health issues in our area.”

Stephen Holland, programme director at Allerdale Investment Partnership, said: "We're so pleased to see work begin on playing surface and drainage improvements for the pitches at Milltoft and Ennerdale Road.

"It's great to see the ongoing benefits for locals flowing from the Maryport Lidl development and we look forward to seeing these improved facilities available for the new football season."

The two areas will be fenced off while work is carried out and local residents are asked to stay away from the sites for their own safety.