Just days before children break-up for the summer holidays councillors have unveil a multi-use gym area in Plaistow.

The new all-weather sports zone on Valetta Grove Open Space, was opened on Friday.

Sir Robin Wales, Cllr Forhad Hussain, Cllr Alan Griffiths and Cllr Joy Laguda were joined by pupils from Portway Primary School and staff from Active Newham to officially open the Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA). The ceremony was followed by sports sessions offering training for handball, basketball and football.

The MUGA has been installed by Newham Council and has an all-weather tarmac surface and goals/markings for football, hockey, basketball and cricket. It will also be available for tennis and volleyball.

It is free to use and is available to everyone. Now it is completed the council will provide a range of free sports activities for children and young people aged between eight to 19. It cost in the region of £75,000 and was funded through the council’s Parks Improvement Capital Funds Programme and The Veolia Environmental Trust which awarded a grant of £37,373.

The MUGA forms part of Newham’s plans to improve Valetta Grove Open Space. The council consulted the local community and key stakeholders to identify what features and activities they wanted to see in the green space to encourage them to use it more.

Sir Robin Wales Mayor of Newham said: “Local residents told us that they want more open spaces and this new space provides just that.

“Our investment into sports is seeing increased opportunities for local people to get involved in sport and physical activity regardless of age or ability.”