WORK on a state-of-the-art sports facility in Gullane will get under way within the next two weeks.

The new all-weather pitch – which will be home to rugby, football, hockey, cricket and basketball sides – was given planning permission in September by East Lothian Council.

Since then, funding has been secured for the pitch, which costs in the region of £220,000.

And this week, the Gullane Sports Development Trust confirmed there was now a start date for work on the site at Memorial Recreation Park to take place.

A spokesman said: “The trustees have recently appointed Allsports CM Ltd as the contractor to build our multi-sports pitch.

“Allsports CM Ltd have delivered a number of high-profile artificial playing surfaces and come highly recommended.

“This is an extremely exciting phase of the project which we are sure will benefit a large cross section of the community.

“The proposed start date is April 27 and given the proximity to the school there has been close consultation between the contractor and East Lothian Council to ensure the safety of the children attending the school.

“The build phase will be circa six to eight weeks.” Residents raised £80,000 on their own to ensure the facility became a reality.

That was then topped up with various funding grants, including a £150,000 boost from Viridor earlier this year.

Mike Mackie, Gullane Sports Development Trust chairman, previously thanked residents for their sustained efforts.

He said: “It’s a phenomenal amount of money to be raised locally and a huge amount of thanks has to go to various individuals and groups within the village.

“They have supported the project and raised funding through various initiatives, whether it be the bicycle ride through Archerfield or the open water swim when the local children raised money for us.

“We held a coffee morning and auctioned off virtual squares of the new pitch and individuals donated money through various local charitable trusts.

“It’s been an outstanding achievement by the people of Gullane to have this facility move forward and see it come to fruition in what has been a really short period of time.”