A new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) has been opened at Hillcrest School in Hastings and will be managed in partnership with sports trust Freedom Leisure.

The facility will be open to the community and an opening day organised by Freedom Leisure, Hillcrest School and the Hastings and Rother Sports Partnership saw children from seven local primary schools demonstrating the outdoor activities that the MUGA can be used for – including hockey, basketball, cricket, football, badminton and trampolining.

Lee Starkey, head of physical education at Hillcrest School, said: “The MUGA has helped to improve the outside facilities at Hillcrest school.

“It enables the curriculum to still continue even in adverse weather.

“It has also helped to provide a wider out of hours clubs programme for all students.

“The MUGA is just part of the updating of sports facilities at Hillcrest School and the next phase is to re-grass the old pitch and renovate the gym changing rooms through the Football Foundation Scheme.”

Steve Hedges from Freedom Leisure Hastings added: “Freedom Leisure is really proud to be involved in the MUGA project. Not only is it benefiting Hillcrest, expanding the amount of hours that children can get involved in physical activities both inside and outside of school hours, but it also benefiting the wider community as it means that these types of facilities are becoming more accessible allowing more people to get involved.”