WORK has started on a £500,000 project to regenerate Shaw Street Recreation Ground.

The well-used site in Newchurch has been in a state of disrepair for several years but Warrington Borough Council has now pledged almost half a million pounds of investment following a successful campaign.

Last year, Culcheth councillors Chris Vobe and Matt Smith led the 'Refurbish our Rec Ground' petition which attracted hundreds of signatures and was handed to the Town Hall.

Over the summer, council appointed a contractor for the revamp and now work is set to be completed by the end of the year.

Clr Vobe said: "This investment has been desperately needed for so long and will allow the recreation ground to be a centrepiece in our community, providing secure car parking and top quality changing facilities for our rugby team."

The improvements include car park resurfacing and a new entrance closer to the Warrington Road junction, improved drainage and lighting and a new traffic management scheme on Shaw Street.

The boundary fence around the centre will also be replaced, signage will be improved and vegetation will be chopped away to make way for new planting.

Clr Matt Smith added: "We wanted to make sure that nothing was left out. The good news is that we have been successful, and that is in no small part thanks to the many residents who joined our campaign and helped us to make the case at the highest levels of Warrington Council.

“The scheme will also see a new entrance to the car park installed, so that the congestion problems outside the nearby restaurant and houses will also be addressed.”

Additional work to renovate the rugby team’s changing facilities will take place in 2015.