A LONG-AWAITED pavilion was officially opened at Little Marsh Sports Fields, Yarnton on Saturday.

Yarnton Parish Council clerk Peter Luke opened the £328,772 facility in Green Lane as part of a bonfire celebration event.

The replacement structure will serve 11 football and cricket teams and includes changing rooms, a club room, kitchen and disabled toilet.

Parish council chairman Fred Jones said the facility will be available to teams like Yarnton FC from Friday, November 22.

The council put in £9,000, attracted £146,500 from outside sources and put up its share of the council tax to repay a loan for the rest.

Mr Jones said: “It is absolutely brilliant, we are really pleased with it. It is going to be a great facility for the community. It has been a long, hard slog but we are nearly there.”