SPORTS minister Richard Caborn made the trip from Westminster to Widnes to open The Bankfield School's £750,000 artificial training pitch.

Mr Caborn and Halton MP Derek Twigg were on hand to open the facility to students, sports clubs and community groups.

And with the Olympics to be held in the UK in six years, the school hopes a new breed of sporting superstars will be able to train and play on the floodlit pitch.

Many local clubs and teams use the facility during evenings and at weekends.

Richard Battersby, the school's sports community manager, said: 'From the day we opened the pitch, we have welcomed a wide range of users from the community and from further afield. I am delighted with the success we are already having.

'It is fabulous to see such an amazing facility for the school and the local community.'

Bankfield achieved its record GCSE results this summer, with 67% of students achieving five A*-C grades .