ELY Beet Club is one step closer to having its very own all-weather sports pitch thanks to a �22,000 grant.

Refuse company Veolia awarded the grant through its environmental trust scheme and is one of 50 awarded by the company this year in recognition of its 15th anniversary in the UK.

The new sports pitch will have an all-weather tarmac surface and will be marked out for football, basketball, tennis and netball.

The Beet Club’s management team will now begin developing their plans, registering the project and drafting the agreements that will enable work to get under way.

The project’s voluntary organiser, Jo Pearson, says, “It’s great that the Veolia environmental trust has awarded this grant and the management committee look forward to working with them to develop and undertake a scheme that will result in the best for the club and the local community.”

Veolia environmental trust’s executive director, McNabb Laurie, added: “This is great news for Ely and we look forward to the scheme starting.”