A new artificial pitch and Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) have been opened in Seymour Park, Manchester, completing the second stage of a £1m project in Old Trafford.

The third generation artificial surface, worth £150,000, has been funded by Manchester United FC and the Football Foundation.

The second phase of the Seymour Park development follows the opening of a £600,000 four-court sports hall in September, which was funded as part of the Barclays Spaces for Sport scheme and is already being used for indoor football, basketball and badminton.

The new 7-a-side pitch and MUGA, which replaces two dilapidated tennis courts, will be used by Manchester Utd and the council’s community development teams for coaching local children, as well as providing access to a range of sports – the MUGA has been designed for football, cricket and basketball use.

The facilities will be managed by the Trafford Leisure Community Trust. Chief executive Bernie Jones said: “The facilities allow us to provide an array of activities in the right environment, with the right equipment – something this community has been lacking”.