A SPORTS pitch made possible by a whirlwind fundraising effort has officially been unveiled.

St Philip and St James School in Jericho has installed a new all-weather astroturf pitch, having raised £118,000 in just three months.

Pupils will have access as well as Summertown Stars football club, which provided £30,000 of funding, and the facility will also be available to hire in the wider community.

Another £30,000 came from the school itself, plus £6,000 from Oxford Sports Council, £3,750 from Oxford City Council, £5,000 from Oxfordshire County Council, £9,000 from parents and more from fundraising events.

Better known to the community as Phil and Jim School, the primary school welcomed Oxford United player Curtis Nelson to cut the ribbon on Wednesday.

Fresh from his team's proud performance against Manchester City on Tuesday, Mr Nelson was joined by parents, pupils, staff and councillors for the ceremony.

Headteacher Sarah Awuye said: "We are delighted with the new surface.

"It is a testament to the strength of the community how quickly the vision for the new surface turned into a reality for our pupils and the wider community."

The new pitch will allow the school to develop PE and sports provision, including after school clubs and activities, and provides the opportunity to be able to partner with other schools to host tournaments.

Summertown Stars chairman Gunnar Niels said: "The club is really pleased with this new pitch and with the quick turnaround by the school between initial idea and completion.

"There is still a dire shortage of midweek training facilities in Oxford.

"This new pitch will benefit not only the school, but also the 700 girls and boys from Summertown Stars who come from a range of primary and secondary schools in North Oxford and beyond."

Jericho mother-of-three Sarah Griffiths, who is on the PTA as well as the Summertown Stars committee, said the pitch will allow the school to 'massively increase participation' in sports.

She said the old pitch was 18-years-old and was beginning to become a hazard.

Dr Griffiths, whose son and two daughters attend the school, added: "We are very passionate [at the school] about engaging all children in sport and increasing their activity, which has shown to be beneficial on a public health level."