A NEW £40,000 sports facility has been unveiled at a Laindon park.

Residents will now be able to make the most of football goals, basketball hoops and cricket stumps in Steeple View Park, off Queens Road.

Once the weather improves, the sports area will be marked out with a five-a-side football pitch and basketball court.

Basildon Council funded the project through its leisure and arts budget.

The steel-fenced facility is located behind Latimer Drive, Laindon.

Kevin Blake, councillor responsible for leisure and arts, said: “The old base and fence was in poor condition and we felt it was time an investment was made into this facility ahead of the summer.

“Where we have been prudent in the past it has made it possible to invest here and I am pleased with the outcome, which is another top quality sport and leisure facility for the young people of this borough.

“I would like to thank Crouch ward members Stuart Allen and Terri Sargent for pushing this project forward.”