"THE most exciting sports project in the Lakes" was officially launched in front of sports clubs, local organisations and interested supporters.

The Lakes Artificial Turf Project, which was unveiled at the Salutation Hotel, Ambleside, aims to bring a full-size, floodlit, synthetic turf pitch to a site next to the Lakes School, at Troutbeck Bridge, for summer 2000.

The pitch, which could be used for hockey, football, rugby, netball and tennis, would be enclosed with security fencing and have its own community changing room.

It would replace the worn-out red-gra surface currently on the site and the changing rooms would be added to the existing building close to the school changing facilities.

The project, which will cost £518,000, would make the Lakes a major centre for sport and recreation in the area, said head teacher of the Lakes School and chairman of the project Arthur Capstick.

A successful National Lottery bid would cover 65 per cent of the cost and the rest must be raised by the Lakes School, community, clubs and organisations. Financial commitments must be made by February.

Planning permission for floodlighting on this sensitive site was granted last month by the Lake District National Park Authority and the scheme is supported by Cumbria County Council, South Lakeland District Council, Windermere Parish Council, Lakes Parish Council and Windermere Hockey Club.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.