SPORTS clubs across the north of the county will be able to benefit from improved pitches after a council pledge of almost £300,000.

Cherwell District Council has committed £290,000 to resurfacing artificial sports pitches at The Cooper School in Bicester and North Oxfordshire Academy in Banbury.

The Banbury school will also get an extra windfall of £88,000 to update the floodlighting.

Cherwell District Council deputy leader George Reynolds said: “The pitches at North Oxfordshire Academy and The Cooper School are heavily used for a whole host of activities, not only for the schoolchildren, but for the wider community who use them.

“We run programmes such as the holiday activity hubs at both sites and have successful hockey clubs at both venues who use the facility as their main training centre and home ground for matches.

“This investment is set to pay off all-year round and well into the future, helping keep the district fit and active.”

Work on the Bicester secondary school’s artificial pitch will also include the replacement of the shock pad which lies underneath it.

Cleveland Land Services will carry out the work at both sites before the end of this month.