A groundbreaking ceremony has marked the start of work on a new £2.2m football facility in Sandbach, Cheshire.

Cheshire East Council (CEC) is working with Sandbach United Football Club (SUFC) on the scheme, which has received £825,000 from the Football Foundation. A further £200,000 was secured through Sport England's Whole Sport Plan, with the local authority match-funding grant funding totalling more than £1m.

When complete, the complex will include a floodlit pitch; four full-size grass pitches; three youth-size pitches; and two junior-size pitches, as well as changing facilities. CEC cabinet member with responsibility for health and wellbeing Andrew Knowles said: "This is one of the largest new-build developments in the UK for grass-roots football, which is superb for Cheshire East."

Bardsley Construction is working on the scheme.