RODBOROUGH youth footballer Liam Barnes cut the ribbon to officially launch a new multi-use games area alongside the sports field below the community hall in Butterrow West.

It was Liam’s 13th birthday, so he was chosen to do the honours while his team-mates and chairman of Rodborough Parish Council, Steve Ponting, looked on.

The new games area is an enclosed hard-surface pitch, marked out for basketball or football, but able to accommodate a variety of other activities, and was made possible after funding from Gloucestershire County Council.

GCC contributed £15,000 via its Active Together scheme, and the project was topped off with additional funding from the Gloucestershire Environmental Trust.

Cllr Brian Oosthuysen, county councillor for Rodborough, said: “The new multi-use games area is a fantastic asset to local people because it is free for everyone to use.

“As the name suggests, the area is multi-functional and is a great place to get fit.

“I was happy to get involved in the bid and hope to see it being used regularly.”

A fast and furious five-a-side demonstration match was witnessed by parishioners attending the annual Volunteers’ Thank You Barbeque, provided each year by parish councillors to thank the residents who volunteer to help the council make Rodborough such a vibrant community.

The area is open to all and you are urged to head down and make the most of what it has to offer.